ITALY: A stone carving in one of Rome's biggest cathedrals may know what millions of Catholics around the world have been fretting about for the last two days: will Pope John Paul II survive his latest health crisis?
The carved marble monument to Pope Sylvester II, who ruled the Catholic church 1,000 years ago, is said to moisten when the death of a Pontiff is imminent.
A priest touched the carving in Rome's Basilica of Saint John Lateran yesterday and confirmed it was dry - good news for the Pope.
In the sacristy of Saint John Lateran, the Pope's "second cathedral" for his role as bishop of Rome, two elderly Italian nuns in grey habits, who did not give their names, said the monument's prophesying power was well documented.
"It sweats when the death of a Pope is approaching," one said.
"The stone cries. It's true, it has happened. There are people who have seen it," the other added.