POPE'S ILLNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22617, 4 January 1937, Page 9

POPE'S ILLNESS

LATEST BULLETIN GRAVITY OF CONDITION VATICAN NOT HOPEFUL THOUSANDS OF MESSAGES By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 3, 7.20 p.m.) VATICAN CITY, Jan. 2 The condition of the Pope was worse this morning after a restless night, but later reports were more reassuring owing to the success of a slight operation,- his heart standing the strain well. Thousands of letters and telegrams are arriving daily expressing hopes for the recovery of His Holiness. The British Minister conveyed King George's sympathy and wishes for a speedy recovery, and the French President, M. Lebrun, sent a similar message. Dr. Milani's bulletin issued to-day stated that a slight improvement in the Pope's condition was noted after the application of leeches, which were removed in the morning. A well-informed Vatican authority stated yesterday that all hopes of the recovery of His Holiness had been abandoned. He said the illness was slowly pursuing a fatal course. The Pope had had a restful night. He heard midnight Mass held in an adjoining room. His physician had ordered a special armchair in which His Holiness was able to move about with his troubled leg extended. RELATIVES' VISIT A RELAPSE FOLLOWS SEMI-CONSCIOUS STATE (Received January 3, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2 The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at Vatican City says the Pope refused all nourishment yesterday and atpresent is depressed after bad nights due to pain in the left leg, in which phlebitis is causing anxiety. It is feared that the interruption of the circulation may cause mortification. The Pome correspondent of the News Chronicle states that the Pope's relatives, including his favourite nephew, who hurried from Milan, visited him this afternoon. Subsequently, His Holiness drifted into semiconsciousness and for the first time since his illness began lost interest in affairs of State.