ITALY: Looking ever more frail, Pope John Paul II made an eagerly awaited reappearance in public yesterday when he delivered the brief final words of the Angelus from the window of his apartment in Rome's Gemelli hospital.
The 84-year-old pontiff, who was rushed to the Gemelli last Tuesday with acute breathing difficulties prompted by a bout of flu, looked understandably pale and tired. His voice sounded weak and hoarse and was barely comprehensible.
In all, the Pope appeared at the window of his 10th floor Gemelli apartment for little under 10 minutes. Using the special hydraulic wheelchair that is now part of his everyday existence, he was able to look out on the hundreds of people who had gathered at the hospital in the hope of seeing and hearing him.
In his address, which was read for him by the "Sostituto" or Vatican Interior Minister, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, he reconfirmed his commitment to serve the church, whilst thanking all those faithful who had prayed for him throughout the week, saying: "Thus, also in this hospital, in the middle of other sick people to whom my affectionate thoughts go out, I can continue to serve the church and all of humanity To all and each of you, I assure you of my gratitude"
It is not clear how long he will remain in hospital. Even though senior Vatican figures continue to speak of an improvement in his condition, it was confirmed over the weekend that he will definitely miss two important appointments in the coming days.
Tomorrow, he will not meet US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, when she visits the Vatican for discussions that are likely to focus on the Middle East and Iraq. The Cardinal Secretary of State, Angelo Sodano, will meet her instead. And for the first time in his 27-year-long pontificate, the Pope will miss the Ash Wednesday prayer service in St Peter's this week, the service that marks the start of Lent.