Vatican City - The Vatican dismissed as unfounded yesterday a British newspaper report that Pope John Paul (79) would have to use a wheelchair within two years.
Chief Vatican spokesman Dr Joaquin Navarro-Valls was reacting to a report in the Sunday Times, which was picked up by several Italian newspapers yesterday. The article said the Pope's doctors had warned that he would be in a wheelchair within two years.
Dr Navarro-Valls said: "It is not the first time that we read these prophesies, which later turn out to be unfounded. The article, which is lacking in precise sources and information, is not to be taken into consideration."