THE Vatican said the death of Terri Schiavo yesterday was a “violation of the sacred nature of life”, and hoped it would lead to legal changes.

The death of Terri Schiavo, who died after being in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years, was met with an outpouring of grief in the US tonight.

EVEN though Pope John Paul is increasingly unable to complete his speeches as a result of Parkinson's disease, he can still carry out his mission and shows no sign of resigning, several cardinals said yesterday.