Pope John Paul II is Hospitalized

The picture above was taken yesterday, Jan. 30, at the Vatican. The Pope's health has taken a sudden turn for the worse.

From the Associated Press:

Pope Hospitalized With Breathing Problems, By VICTOR L. SIMPSON

ROME (AP) -- Pope John Paul II was hospitalized urgently on Tuesday after he suffered inflammation of the throat and had difficulty breathing, the Vatican said. In a post-midnight statement, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said it was decided to urgently hospitalize the 84-year-old pope at 10:50 p.m. after he suffered complications from the flu. "The flu which the Holy Father was suffering for three days this evening became complicated by an acute laryngeal tracheitis and larynx spasm crisis," the statement said Tuesday. "For this reason urgent admission to Gemelli Polyclinic, which occurred at 10:50 p.m. today was decided." Tracheitis, an inflammation of the trachea, requires hospitalization and usually a breathing tube to keep the airway clear. The spasms are likely a complication from the respiratory illness he's had. It's possible his Parkinson's disease has made his condition more serious and his breathing more labored. A Vatican official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the pontiff, who has had the flu since Sunday, had apparently suffered a "breathing crisis."