Pope follows mass 'in spirit'

2005-03-24 21:54

Vatican City - Battling frail health, Pope John Paul II played no part in the solemn mass of the Last Supper on Thursday, but told the congregation at St Peter's basilica that he was with them "in mind and in heart".

The message was read out by Colombian cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, 70, who presided over the solemn Holy Thursday mass in the pope's absence.

"In mind and in heart, I am close to you," said the absent 84-year-old leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics, a month to the day since undergoing a throat operation to help him breathe.

John Paul II, whose poor health is complicated by Parkinson's disease and led to rumours earlier this week that he could be hospitalised again, said he wanted to greet the people "with great affection".

He sent a special word of greeting to hundreds of members of Rome's diplomatic corps attending the ceremony, which recalls Christ's Last Supper with his apostles.

After reading the message, Lopez Trujillo symbolically washed the feet of 12 priests in imitation of Christ's humility before his Last Supper with his apostles.

The pope has not performed the ceremony himself since 2001, the last time when he was strong enough to play a full part in the demanding Easter rites.

The ravages of recent illness, old age and Parkinson's disease has forced the pontiff to take a largely peripheral role in this year's ceremonies for Easter Holy Week, the most solemn of the Church calendar when Christians commemorate the passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Pilgrims of all ages and from across the world filled St Peter's basilica, which swirled with Latin and Greek choral chants, and some were unable to hide their disappointment at the pontiff's absence.

Disappointed

Linda Nguyen, a student from San Diego, California, admitted she was "a little disppointed" at the pope's absence.

For Mayra Villegas of Latacunga, Ecuador, not seeing the pope was "a source of great pain".

"We really wanted to attend a mass by the pope," said Villegas, leaving the more than two-hour long ceremony less than half way through.

They were still happy to spend Easter in the home of the Catholic Church. "So many people in Latin America want to be here. We are the lucky ones," said Villegas.

"There is a mixture of the happiness of Easter and sadness at the fact that the pope is ill," said Giovanni Laudi of Rome as he entered the incense-filled basilica.

Cristina Clariza and her family from Freemont, California, also left the ceremony early. Although they had come for the mass, all of them admitted they would have stayed had the pope been there.

The Vatican said the pope may yet make a virtual appearance, via a video link-up, at the Way of the Cross ceremony on Good Friday at Rome's Colosseum.

The pope has delegated all the main Easter ceremonies to cardinals, except his traditional Urbi et Orbi (to Rome and the world) blessing on Easter Sunday, when he normally greets pilgrims in some 60 languages.

Earlier, Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re paid tribute to John Paul II's stoicism, saying his suffering was a "serene example of his abandonment to God which links him to the mystery of the Cross".

- AFP