Update On Pope

PREDICTION OF DEATH | 4:45 p.m. ET

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the Vatican's health minister, tells Mexico's Televisa dal Vaticano that the pope 'is about to die.'

• POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR HEADS TO ROME | 3:52 p.m. ET

NBC News reports that Cardinal Francis Arinze, the Nigerian cardinal viewed as one of the leading candidates to succeed Pope John Paul II, has left Newark, N.J., where he was visiting, for Rome.

• U.S. MASSES PLANNED | 3:50 p.m. ET

Cardinals Edward Egan of New York and Roger Mahony of Los Angeles prepare to celebrate special Masses this evening in the event of the pope's death.

• VATICAN STATEMENT PLANNED | 3:40 p.m. ET

The Vatican says it will issue a statement shortly.

Thanks LIsa. This is very sad indeed.

I just read this. I don't know if this is old news or new news:

Pope John Paul II was clinging to life Friday as his condition deteriorated further, and the Vatican said his breathing was shallow and his kidneys were failing after complications from a urinary tract infection. Millions of faithful around the world prayed for the fading life of the pontiff. In St. Peter's Square, tens of thousands prayed into the night for the 84-year-old pontiff, with many tearfully gazing up at his third-floor window.

I think I'm going to head to church tonight to pray for him.

This is very very sad.