http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/27620.asp
Pope staying in hospital Mar. 10, 2005 Pope John Paul will remain in hospital for the time being but will be back at the Vatican by start of Holy Week on March 20, the Vatican says. But the Vatican said it was still not clear what role, if any, the Pope would have in festivities of Holy Week, which starts on Palm Sunday, March 20, and ends on Easter Sunday, March 27. "The Holy Father, following the advice of his doctors, will extend his stay at the Gemelli hospital by a few more days in order to complete his convalescence, which is progressing regularly," spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said on Thursday. He said the next bulletin on the health of the 84-year-old Pope would not be issued until Monday, making clear that the Pontiff would remain in hospital for at least part of next week. "I can confirm that the Pope will spend Holy Week in the Vatican," the spokesman said. "This has been confirmed." The Pope is still undergoing breathing and speech rehabilitation therapy and still has a tube in his throat. He has been in hospital since February 24, when he underwent a tracheotomy to help ease severe breathing problems. For the first time in his papacy, he has delegated cardinals to preside at nearly all Easter season ceremonies. Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the most important event in the Christian liturgical calendar and Holy Week is one of the most intense periods for the Pope. A programme issued by the Vatican earlier this week showed that the Pope was only scheduled to deliver his traditional blessing on Easter Sunday. But the Easter Sunday Mass itself and nearly all of the other Holy Week ceremonies will be presided over by cardinals. It is still not clear if the Pope would even be able to attend the ceremonies, make only brief appearances or join the faithful via television link-ups. "The participation by the Pope at one (Holy Week) event or another will be decided after he returns to the Vatican," Navarro-Valls said. According to the schedule, the Pope would deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing on Easter Sunday after Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano celebrates the Mass in St Peter's Square. But it did not say from where he would deliver the blessing. He normally does so from the square after leading the Mass. Vatican sources have said aides were studying the possibility of keeping the Pope in his Vatican apartments and broadcasting live pictures to faithful at some of the services. For the third week running, this Sunday an aide will preside at his Sunday blessing in St Peter's Square, while the Pope will appear briefly at his hospital window. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UwRTUD/UOnJAA/i1hLAA/wpWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> "[M]y ministry is that of servus servorum Dei." --Pope John Paul II (Ut Unum Sint, no. 88) "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." --Matthew 16:18 Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pope-John-Paul-II/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
