Vatican to issue written statement instead of news conference, on pope

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican will issue a written statement on the condition of dying Pope John Paul II at about 7:10 pm (1710 GMT) Saturday instead of a news conference originally set to be held by 6:00 pm.
"There will be a written statement in about half an hour," deputy Vatican spokesman Father Ciro Benedittini said.
The ANSA news agency reported earlier that Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls entered the apostolic palace at around 1520 GMT, apparently to go to the pope`s apartments, and had not left as of an hour later.

04/02/2005 16:56 GMT