Pope could be hospitalised again

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2005

VATICAN CITY (AFP) — A frail Pope John Paul II could be hospitalised for a third time in two months amid deepening concerns that he is failing to recover from a recent throat operation, Vatican watchers said.

The pontiff missed Easter Holy Week ceremonies for the first time in his long pontificate and did not pronounce his traditional Easter Sunday "Urbi et Orbi" blessing.

The notion of re-hospitalisation began at the beginning of last week but gained momentum in the past 24 hours after the pope failed to appear for an annual Easter Monday blessing.

Milan daily Corriere della Sera said Tuesday that John Paul II could be readmitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital at the end of this week or early next week. Doctors need to check the tube that was placed in his...