Pope John Paul II has been given the "Holy Viaticum" after suffering cardio-circulatory collapse and shock, the Vatican spokesman said.

The Pope's condition is  "very serious", according to the spokesman.

Pope seemed to be reacting well to antibiotic treatment and his condition "appears to have been stabilized", said earlier the Vatican's official radio.

The 84-year-old Pope's health declined sharply, a day after he developed a high fever brought on by a urinary tract infection.

Source: Agencies