Pope John Paul II, after being rushed to Rome's Gemelli hospital for the second time in a month, underwent emergency surgery to help ease his breathing on Thursday.
Reading a prepared statement, hospital spokesperson Nicola Cerbino told reporters the Pope was readmitted for treatment of complications from the flu that forced his hospitalization in early February.
"This clinical situation led to an elective tracheotomy to ensure the ventilation of the patient and to favour the resolution of the pathology," Cerbino told reporters in Italian.
Noting that the 84-year-old pontiff had "given his consensus" for the procedure -- which involves making an incision in the windpipe and inserting a tube to bring air directly to the lungs -- Cerbino added that "the result was positive."
"The Pope is fine and is going to spend the night in his room," he said.
In its own statement, the Vatican described the 30-minute operation as "elective." In medical parlance, that typically suggests the procedure is not an emergency measure, but rather a carefully considered option. A tracheotomy, however, is usually considered an option of last resort.
Nevertheless, a top aide to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who visited the pope after he woke up following surgery, said John Paul was "serene." The pope attempted to communicate with a hand gesture, Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta said, but was advised not to try.
According to Italy's ANSA news agency, the pontiff is now conscious, but breathing with the help of a respirator.
Sudden Turn
The Pope had been admitted to the hospital earlier this month, after developing throat spasms from the effects of the flu that made it difficult for him to breathe. He had appeared to rebound from the illness after his release on Feb. 10.
But some sort of breathing crisis prompted his readmittance before noon on Thursday. CTV's Vatican affairs correspondent Gerry O'Connell said the Pope was transported by ambulance, which indicated "a certain level of emergency and of crisis."
The Pope, who has Parkinson's Disease as well as crippling knee and hip ailments, was hospitalized for the "necessary specialized assistance and further tests," papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls confirmed, but would not elaborate further.
Aides told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that the Pope had a fever, congestion and had a relapse of breathing problems. There are concerns that his condition could develop into pneumonia -- a threatening illness, particularly for the elderly.
The Vatican had previously said the Pope was making a steady recovery from his illness earlier this month. He has made a handful of appearances over the past two weeks, but looked weak and showed continuing signs of the flu.
On Wednesday, the pontiff managed to make his longest appearance when he addressed faithful pilgrims for about 30 minutes via a television link from his study. He read a three-paragraph address and then greeted the pilgrims in six languages, including his native Polish.
It is expected the surgery will prevent the pontiff from speaking again for some time, and may also require an extended hospital stay.
The Pope's hospitalization -- his eighth since his election in 1978-- comes one day after his latest book went on sale, sparking controversy for the passages in which he calls same-sex marriages a part of a "new ideology of evil."
In Memory and Identity, the Pope says: "It is legitimate and necessary to ask oneself if this is not perhaps part of a new ideology of evil, perhaps more insidious and hidden, which attempts to pit human rights against the family and against man."
In the book, he mulls an earlier brush with death when Mehmet Ali Agca shot him in 1981.
"Yes, I remember that journey to the hospital," he wrote.
"I remained conscious for some time after. I had a feeling that I would survive. I was in pain, I had reason to be afraid, but I had this strange feeling of confidence."
With files from CTV's Tom Kennedy and The Associated Press
