Pope John Paul II touches his face as he appears from the window of his private apartment at the Vatican March 30, 2005. Pope John Paul's fragile health took a turn for the worse as he developed a very high fever caused by a urinary infection, the Vatican said. Picture taken March 30, 2005. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Vatican—Pope John Paul, who has been in poor health for some time, is now suffering from a high fever caused by a urinary tract infection.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said late Thursday the 84-year-old pope is being given what he calls the “appropriate antibiotic therapy” by a medical team at the Vatican.

The chief doctor at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital says there are no immediate plans to admit the pope.

Worshippers have gathered in Saint Peter’s Square to pray for his recovery.

Earlier this week, doctors inserted a nasal feeding tube into the pope to boost his strength and help him recover from February’s throat surgery to correct breathing problems.

The pope has suffered from severe arthritis and Parkinson’s Disease for several years. He has been hospitalized twice in the last two months.