The Pope Still Clinging to Life

VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- In its latest pronouncement on Pope John Paul II's failing health, the Vatican acknowledged Saturday that the pope has slipped in and out of consciousness.

"There has been an initial compromise in the state of consciousness, but we cannot speak of a coma," said spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, noting that a particularly "difficult compromising moment" happened around dawn.

"His eyes are open," he said. "Sometimes he looks like he's resting with his eyes closed. So when he opens his eyes, when he's spoken to, and I'm not talking medically however, there is no talk of coma."

Navarro-Valls said the pope's general and cardiorespiratory conditions "are the same" and "nothing has changed" since Friday's statement that the pope's blood pressure had weakened and his kidneys were failing.

Navarro-Valls' comments late Saturday morning indicate the pope's condition continues to decline.

Navarro-Valls spoke and answered questions as Roman Catholic faithful stood vigil in St. Peter's Square and millions prayed across the world for the 84-year-old pontiff.

He reconstructed a sentence of "interrupted words pronounced by the Holy Father" Saturday morning, which he suggested were spoken as the ailing pope thought about the young people gathered in St. Peter's Square overnight.

On Friday night, the pope -- quoted by Navarro-Valls -- said: "I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you."