Pope appears at hospital window

The Pope has appeared at his hospital window, surprising and, no doubt, delighting many who had thought he was too weak to make such a display.

With the lenses of the world’s media trained upon his private suite, John Paul II made the sign of the cross during the traditional Sunday Angelus blessing. He waved twice, at one point reaching to his throat before aides wheeled his chair away. The Pope is recovering at Rome’s Gemelli hospital after a tracheotomy last week to ease breathing difficulties brought on by a relapse of the flu. In St Peter’s Square, an aide read out the blessing in which the 84-year-old Pontiff urged the world to continue praying for him. He said John Paul was offering up his suffering for the world. The next health bulletin is expected tomorrow, although many will be heartened by his brief appearance today.

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