Pope cancels weekly audience over illness

The Pope has cancelled his popular weekly audience with the faithful to concentrate on regaining his ability to speak, the Vatican said today.

He is continuing to work on church matters from his hospital suite in Rome, a spokesman said.

The Holy See said there would be no substitute for the pontiff for the public audience, which usually draws thousands of pilgrims and is held in winter in a Vatican auditorium or, in good weather, in St Peter's Square.

Italy's ANSA news agency said the 84-year-old pope spent a restful might "Doctors give us encouraging news, but we need to wait," said Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.

"It's nice to see how much interest the figure of the Holy Father attracts," he added. "But maybe media, too, should take note in the fact that the pope needs resting."