VATICAN CITY (CNS): The Vatican has indicated that Pope John Paul II might be home for Easter.
The pontiff spent several minutes at the window of his hospital room on March 6, waving to and blessing enthusiastic crowds at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and in St Peter’s Square.
Large screens in the Vatican square showed the 84 year-old Pope, somewhat slumped in his wheeled throne, watching television as his delegate, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, led the Sunday Angelus prayer at the Vatican.
The Pope then made the sign of the cross, blessing the hundreds of faithful who waited in the rain for a glimpse of him.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said on March 7: “We hope the Pope will be in the Vatican for Holy Week”, which begins with Palm Sunday, March 20.
Pope John Paul said he wanted to extend special thanks to members of other religions, particularly Jews and Muslims, who “have wanted to come to pray here at the hospital. This is a comforting sign for me and one for which I thank God’.
The Vatican Information Service reported that tens of thousands of e-mails offering get well wishes for the Holy Father have been pouring in from around the world since a special e-mail address was released late last month.
The English language address is john_paul_ii@vatican.va
