Posted on 02/13/2005 6:08:19 AM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY (AFP) -
Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II went some way towards reassuring worried Catholics that his health had improved, during a regular Sunday Angelus appearance from his window overlooking St Peter's Square only a few days after being discharged from hospital.
The 84-year-old pontiff recited the few words of his weekly blessing in a tired but clear voice, though -- as has become the norm in recent weeks -- he left the longer Angelus prayer as well as his weekly message to an aide to read.
John Paul II made no direct mention of his health problems in his first public appearance since his discharge from hospital on Thursday, but he used the occasion to make a "hearfelt" appeal for the release of hostages in Iraq (news - web sites).
"While I am continuing to pray for peace in the Middle East, I address a heartfelt appeal for the release of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena and for all the people who have been kidnapped in Iraq," he said in a message read by his aide, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri.
In the message, the pope also reaffirmed his intention to continue leading the Catholic Church and its more than one billion members worldwide.
"I still need your prayers before the Lord to accomplish the mission which Jesus gave to me," it said.
Though still hoarse, the pope's voice sounded considerably stronger than the barely-audible murmur of his blessing from his hospital window a week ago which raised concerns that his health had diminished since his hospitalisation and sparked a debate in the Catholic Church over whether he should now retire.
Seeing him at all was a bonus for the thousands of pilgrims in the sunny square. They burst into applause, and many into tears, when the pope's stooped figure appeared in his apartment window on the stroke of midday.
"The pope is advanced in age, but in his soul he is young," said a Polish nun, Sister Danuta.
The pope, who has Parkinson's disease (news - web sites), answered the tumultuous applause of pilgrims with a wave and the words "dear brothers and sisters," at the beginning of the seven-minute appearance.
He spoke again after the prayer to recite the blessing, and a third time when he said, "have a good Sunday" at the end.
"The Holy Father is able to show us the intrinsic value of human suffering. It's clear that he's suffering. He's not trying to hide it," said American priest John Zuhlsdorf.
"Now the whole world is focused in a new way on his declining physical condition," he added.
Antonella Colizzi, who attended the Angelus blessing as part of an excited group of pilgrims from Milan, was impressed by the pope's resilience against illness. "We saw the force of his spirit," she said.
American tourist, Han-Yuan Chia, said the pope's long battle against illness had clearly taken its toll, however. "It would seem logical for him to retire," she said.
Italian journalist Sgrena was abducted on February 3 after visiting a Baghdad mosque where refugees have been encamped since a US-led assault on the city of Fallujah in November.
An Islamist group that has claimed to be holding Sgrena and threatened to kill her gave Rome 48 hours Thursday to announce a troop pullout before disclosing her fate.
Viva Il Papa! Cent'Anni!
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I think he believes that God has kept him alive this long because God wills for him to be Pope, even if he is so infirmed.
To read later.
I've watched relatives with MS and Parkinson's and the one thing they hate is for others to tell them what they should and shouldn't do. They may be slower due to the physical nature of the illness and to quote them: "I still have my mind and it's working just fine."
God Bless this beautiful soul.
Who says he can't run the Papacy effectively? It's the Pope's body that is failing not his mind. This saintly man is a witness to the dignity of life. What strength and courage he gives to those who are suffering from physical ailments. I think it was NYer who posted the Pope's comments from a few years back that "Jesus did not come down from the Cross".
Stolat to the Pope.
He also has Parkinson's disease and early onset Alzheimer's.. which affects the brain.
Well, he seems to be of sound mind now.
I have never heard a report of Alzheimer's. Parkinson's is very evident.
For other religions this would be a point of debate; however, The Holy Spirit guides His Church -His Church is not limited by the temporal -hence, debate is moot for all but nonbelievers...
Since when did you become an unimformed Catholic?
It seems to me that too many people are disturbed by the Pope's patient endurance of his suffering, and just wish he would go away. As he has said himself, that's in God's hands.
Thanks for the good news.
Doesn't matter how many "appearances" he makes, or how many photos are taken. He is not well, and- well, I don't want to say it.
Today he is one day closer to death.
But, who isn't?
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