- News>
- World
Pope appears at general audience, confirms trip to Pompeii
Vatican City, Oct 01: As concern for his health mounted, Pope John Paul II presided at his general audience today and said that ``god willing`` he will visit a shrine in Pompeii next week.
Vatican City, Oct 01: As concern for his health
mounted, Pope John Paul II presided at his general audience
today and said that ``god willing'' he will visit a shrine in
Pompeii next week.
The frail 83-year-old pope appeared alert and read
his speeches in various languages at the audience attended by
some 12,000 people in St. Peter's square. He waved to the
crowd as he was driven in an open vehicle around the square.
He said that ``god willing, on Oct. 7'' he would make
a pilgrimage to a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary in
Pompeii, near Naples.
John Paul missed his general audience last week
because of what the Vatican called a mild intestinal ailment.
His appearance came after one of his closest advisers was quoted as saying in remarks published yesterday that John Paul was ``in a bad way'' and urged Catholics to pray for him.
The comments by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger raised concerns the pope's health might have deteriorated beyond his obvious frailty. The pontiff suffers from Parkinson's disease, which makes it very difficult for him to speak and walk.
``He is in a bad way,'' Ratzinger told the German weekly Bunte. ``We should pray for the pope.''
The comments were made Sept. 22, a day before the pontiff came down with the intestinal ailment.
Bureau Report
His appearance came after one of his closest advisers was quoted as saying in remarks published yesterday that John Paul was ``in a bad way'' and urged Catholics to pray for him.
The comments by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger raised concerns the pope's health might have deteriorated beyond his obvious frailty. The pontiff suffers from Parkinson's disease, which makes it very difficult for him to speak and walk.
``He is in a bad way,'' Ratzinger told the German weekly Bunte. ``We should pray for the pope.''
The comments were made Sept. 22, a day before the pontiff came down with the intestinal ailment.
Bureau Report