First public words since hospitalisation.
Papal spokesman denies taping claims
08:03 AEDT Mon Feb 7 2005
AP - Pope John Paul II appeared at his hospital window on Sunday, frail and speaking with difficulty but determined to show he can still lead the Roman Catholic Church. The 10-minute appearance at an open window gave the public its first glimpse of the 84-year-old pontiff since his hospitalisation, which rekindled questions about his ability to carry on. He looked rested and alert, and a message read for him by an Argentine archbishop standing beside him seemed to respond to any doubts raised. "... In this hospital, in the middle of other sick people to whom my affectionate thoughts go out, I can continue to serve the church and the entire humanity," the message said. As well-wishers, many with tears in their eyes, gazed up at his 10th-floor window, John Paul gave his usual brief blessing. But his words, in a gravelly voice, were barely understandable. In the evening, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls denied in a statement Italian media speculation that the pope's words were taped - not live. "Naturally, the words of the Holy Father in the blessing this morning were pronounced at the very moment in which we heard them," he said. "I think it's very touching because the Holy Father is not doing well and seeing his will to appear is moving," said Daniela Sgro, a 25-year-old Italian. "John Paul is a different pope," said Pilar Vizcaya, visiting Rome from Mexico. "He's very humane and has a big heart. Let's hope we can see him again in good health soon." The pope, who has Parkinson's disease and hip and knee ailments, was rushed to Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic last Tuesday with breathing trouble brought on by the flu. The Vatican has said he is steadily improving and that the next medical bulletin would be issued on Monday. Under heavy police security and with TV cameras broadcasting the images around the world, John Paul was seated by the window wearing his usual white robes, a tiny bandage visible on his right wrist and a reddish mark on his chin. Although no date for his release has been given, the pope's spokesman has suggested the hospital stay would last a week. A few kilometers from the hospital on St Peter's Square, where several thousand people gathered to see the pope on four giant video screens, cheers went up as his image appeared. When the pope is well, he gives his weekly blessing from a Vatican window overlooking the square. "To all and each of you I assure you of my gratitude, which is translated into a constant invocation of the Lord according to your intentions as also for the needs of the church and the great issues of the world," the pope said in the remarks read in Italian by Archbishop Leonardo Sandri.
©AAP 2005
Vatican officials say the pope has been readmited to hospital
Pope John Paul II has been re-admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital with a relapse of influenza which saw him hospitalised earlier this month.  

He was wheeled into Gemelli Hospital on a partially elevated stretcher, and was waving to people as he entered the clinic.

Later, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls announced that the pope had undergone a tracheotomy to assist his breathing.

The Pope's re-admittance again raises questions about how long his papacy will last.  One of his close aides refused to rule out the possibility of the Pope retiring saying it was up to his "conscience".  The Pope has recently indicated that he has no intention of retiring by saying that the call "to guard his flock" was "particularly alive in him".  

The operation lasted around thirty minutes, and Navarro Valls said to media that it was a success.