VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul's recovery from throat surgery is going slower than hoped for, raising even more doubts over if and when he can resume normal activities, Vatican sources said on Tuesday.
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"It is clear the Pope is suffering a lot," said another cleric who works in the Vatican.
Vatican sources said the 84-year-old Pope, who was last seen in public on Sunday, would have to miss this week's Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday, the day Christians commemorate Christ's passion and death.
The Pope, who also suffers from Parkinson's Disease, had hoped to be able to attend the ritual.
It was the only event during Holy Week, which ends next Sunday, that the Pope had not previously delegated to cardinals.
The procession will instead be presided over by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar for Rome. The Pontiff will watch on television and if his health permits, he will join the ceremony via a video link at the start or the end.
The Pope's audiences, including Wednesday general audiences, have effectively been suspended until further notice.
Rome was awash with rumours on Monday night that the Pope had suffered a serious setback earlier in the day and several Italian newspapers on Tuesday reported he had a brief breathing crisis.
Condition worsening?
One newspaper, Rome's Il Messaggero, quoted an unnamed Polish priest as having been told by the Pope's secretary: "Pray for the Pope because his condition is worsening."
Slide show • A historic papacy
View a timeline of photographs spanning the life of Pope John Paul II.
Medical staff have to keep the tube clean and clear of secretions in order to avert breathing problems and minimise the risk of infection.
It is not clear when the Pope will be able to resume his regular activities. His only scheduled international trip, to a World Youth Day event in Germany in August, is highly doubtful, sources said.
The Pope left Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 13, nearly three weeks after he underwent a tracheotomy to relieve severe breathing problems.
Since his release from hospital, the Pope has made three brief appearances, two from his window overlooking St Peter's Square and one on a video link from his apartments.
Last Sunday, during a two-minute appearance from his window, the leader of the world's some 1.1 billion Roman Catholics looked uncomfortable, gaunt and in pain.
The man once known as "The Great Communicator" remained silent. He banged a glass lectern with his hand in what appeared to be a sign of frustration and was wheeled away.
The absence during Holy Week of the Pope, now in the 27th year of his papacy, has hung heavy in the air.
Holy Week is the busiest and most important period in the Church's liturgical calendar.
The Pope has even delegated the Easter Sunday mass to a cardinal but is expected to deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.
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Stock image of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican
'''John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła) 1920-2005'''

After months of failing health, ''His Holiness'' Pope John Paul II passed away today, April 2, at 9:37 p.m. local time (19:37 UTC). He was 84 years old.  An email message to journalists from the spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls from The Vatican confirmed the death at 20:00 UTC.

The Pope had a  earlier this year to help him breathe, and then lost his ability to speak last week. On Thursday March 31 he developed a urinary tract infection that led to septic shock and cardiovascular collapse.  A nasogastric feeding tube was inserted to help him regain strength.  The Pope elected not to return to Rome's Gemelli hospital, but instead to stay in his own apartments where he was tended to by his personal doctors and Vatican medical staff.

The same night, he was administered the '''' also known as the last rites. On Friday April 1, the Vatican said he was having difficulties with both his heart and his kidneys.

 news agency Agenzia Giornalistica Italia reports the pope's final message was "I am happy, you be happy, too. Let's pray together with joy. I entrust everything to the Virgin Mary with joy".

A description of the last moment of the holy father from father Jarek Cielecki, director of the Vatican service news and of the Italian TV catolic Tele Padre Pio, tells us the last moment of life of this great man. "The Holy father died looking at the window, gathered in prayer. As such he was conscious. Just before dying, the Pope raised his right hand in a sign of blessing, as if he was aware of all the people gathered in prayer. Then, as soon as the prayer ended, the Pope did a huge effort, said the word 'Amen' and died."

The Vatican has announced that the funeral will take place on Wednesday, April 6 and that the Pope's body will lie in state from Monday, April 4.