Italy: As of yesterday ailing Pope John Paul II is now being fed through a nasal tube in an effort to build up his strength in the wake of his tracheotomy operation last month.
Issuing the first medical bulletin since the Pope left Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 13th, Vatican spokesman Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls confirmed that the Pope had a "nasal-gastric" tube inserted yesterday "to improve his calorific intake and promote an efficient recovery of his strength".
In a brief communique, the Vatican spokesman emphasised that the Pope continues his "slow and progressive post-operative recovery", adding that he remains in "working contact" with his collaborators, "following closely the activity of the Holy See and the church".
Furthermore, states the communique, the Pope "spends many hours of the day sitting up" while he is also able to celebrate Mass in his private chapel in the pontifical apartment.
The Vatican statement was issued shortly after the Pope had made another brief appearance at his apartment overlooking St Peter's Square, greeting the pilgrims and tourists who had gathered below notwithstanding the cancellation of the traditional Wednesday public audience.
As on Easter Sunday, the Pope made the sign of the cross but was again unable to speak when a microphone was placed before him.
Once more, he looked gaunt, weak and in some difficulty.
Yesterday's announcement that the Pope will now be nourished via a nasal feeding tube comes after days of feverish media speculation that his apparently worsening condition might prompt either a further hospitalisation or the implementation of a stomach feeding tube.
It is clear to even the non-medical, inexpert eye that the Pope has lost a lot of weight in the 17 days since he left hospital, prompting speculation that he is simply not getting enough nourishment.
Yesterday's Vatican statement concludes by pointing out that the Pope continues to be cared for by the Vatican's own medical services "under the guidance of the Holy Father's personal physician, Dr Renato Buzzonetti" - a rebuke perhaps to non-medically-qualified "experts" in the media.