Pope John Paul II, 83, is nearing "the last days and months of his life", according to one of Europe's top cardinals.
The Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, who is among the contenders for the papacy, told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Thursday: "
The entire world is experiencing a Pope who is sick, who is disabled and who is dying..."The Pope suffers from Parkinson's disease, and crippling knee and hip ailments.
While the Vatican declined to comment on the statement, the cardinal's spokesperson later told the Associated Press that the comments were "to be interpreted philosophically".
But according to the Australian newsportal www.news.com, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer came away from a meeting with the Pope on Thursday relieved that the Pontiff's health seemed better than recent reports had suggested.
"It's not like in the media. He is not on the brink," Downer said after a private audience in the Vatican.
