Slovakia: Pope John Paul II's ill-health, more than his words about Christian tradition, dominated the beginning of his four-day pastoral visit to the Republic of Slovakia yesterday.
The obviously frail and weak Pope not only had difficulty reading his first speech at Bratislava airport yesterday morning, but he also appeared to be in some pain as he was lifted into the Popemobile before travelling into the Slovak capital.
Earlier, it had taken the 83-year-old, wheelchair-bound Pope almost half an hour to disembark from the Alitalia papal jet. As is now usual practice, he got off the plane via a hydraulic lift normally used for cargo and discreetly placed on the far side of the plane, away from public view.
Looking tired, with his head to one side and with both hands trembling, the Pope was then wheeled round from behind the plane for the formal arrival ceremony. It was then that he appeared to have some difficulty reading his address to Slovak President Rudolf Schuster.
Having slurred his way through the opening section of his speech, given in Slovak, the Pope then stopped, saying that he would hand it over to be read by one of his helpers, Mgr Robert Urland. The Pope took up the microphone again to read the final paragraph of the speech in which he offered a spiritual embrace to "all the sons and daughters of Slovakia".
Although it is now common practice for the Pope to delegate some of his speaking functions during major and often lengthy Vatican ceremonies, this was the first time in the 102 overseas visits of his 25-year pontificate that the Pope has not been able to read his airport arrival address. Later, as he was climbing into the Popemobile to travel into Bratislava centre, he visibly winced in pain as he was helped into his seat.
Notwithstanding his health problems - the Pope suffers from Parkinson's disease and chronic arthritis - there was no mistaking the clarity and force of his message yesterday. As expected, he once more set out his stall forcibly on his view that the evolving European Union must emphasise its Christian tradition.
In reference to the fact that Slovakia will join the EU next year, the Pope said: "Dearly beloved, bring to the construction of Europe's new identity the contribution of your rich Christian tradition! Do not be satisfied with the sole quest for economic advantages. Great affluence in fact can also generate great poverty."
In greeting the Pope, President Schuster inadvertently paid tribute to the pontiff's role in the downfall of Eastern Bloc communism when he said: "Your first visit in 1990 was marked by the watershed changes in our political system which, in turn, changed the face of our nation."
Vatican sources later confirmed that during a subsequent private meeting with the Slovak President, the Pope thanked him for refusing to sign recent proposed legislation relaxing the circumstances in which women may apply for an abortion.
Today the Pope travels to Banska Bystric, where he will preside over an open-air Mass.