Pope suffering 'high fever'

Pope John Paul II’s condition remains very serious, the Vatican said in a statement tonight.

The pope developed a high fever late this morning but he responds ”correctly” when addressed by members of his household.

"The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remain very serious. In late morning, the high fever developed. When addressed by members of his household, he responds correctly,'' the Holy See said in a statement.

The 84-year-old pontiff was reported to have had a fever on Thursday night which the Vatican blamed on a urinary tract infection that later led to heart and kidney failure. The Holy See did not say whether the fever had subsided at any time since or whether this morning’s fever was a new bout.

At about the time the communique was issued, a light went on in the pope’s third-floor apartment overlooking St Peter’s Square, where an estimated 40,000 people were keeping vigil.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said earlier in the day that John Paul was not in a coma and opened his eyes when spoken to. But he added: “Since dawn this morning, there have been first signs that consciousness is being affected.”