Pope has windpipe surgery

Pope John Paul II on Thursday night underwent tracheotomy in Rome's Gemelli Hospital to ease his breathing.

The operation took place hours after he was admitted to the hospital with a recurrence of the flu.

The operation, which involves making a hole in the throat through which a tube is inserted to assist breathing, took about 30 minutes and ended at 0850 pm, according to reports.

"He's fine, and he's tranquil," said Gianna Letta, under-secretary for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. "The doctors are satisfied with the way he has undergone the surgery."

The 84-year-old pontiff spent 10 days in Gemelli Hospital earlier this month suffering flu symptoms.