Rome
Pope John Paul II began speech and breathing therapy this week, after an emergency tracheotomy left him temporarily unable to talk. Doctors left a small tube in the pope’s throat; he can speak only while compressing a valve with his finger. The 84-year-old pontiff, who has had Parkinson’s disease for years, was hospitalized last week with severe breathing problems. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said the pope was responding well to therapy and was able to speak a few words in German and Italian. “I am happy to say that the Holy Father is fully alert mentally,” Ratzinger said, “and also able to say the essential things with his voice.”
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