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9 $ J,
ROiVJt, Friday,
(AAP)
-His Holiness Pcpe
Pius XU lay near death last nis;ht, and was
sinking fast.
The 78-year-old Pontiff suffered a heart
collapse and complications set in.
A surgeon was summoned,
! to the Vatican and emergency
X-rays were taken to deter
mine whether surgery might
improve the Pontiff's condi
tion.
United Press quoted un
official Vatican sources as
saying that it was feared the
Pope would not live through
the night.
Vatican sources said there
had been a rapid decline in
the Pope's condition most ot
the day.
First came word that the
Pope was suffering from
acute depression, then the
Vatican press officially an
nounced a serious collapse.
Several hours later the
Pope's physician. Dr. Ricardo
Galeazzi-Lisi. said there had
been a worsening of the gen
eral condition of the Holy
Father.
"For the moment it is not
alarming." he said. "His
Holiness is conscious and
fully lucid."
Later last night the Vati
can issued a communique
which said:
"The condition of the Holy
Father underwent a change
during which the disturbance
he recently suffered has
worsened. |
The Holy Father is being'
examined to learn what has:
caused this change in his
condition."
The communique added j
that the Pontiff's relations j
were called to the Vatican
and that his two physicians
and a staff of nurses stood
bv his bedside.
$