Pope thanks Jews, Muslims
2005-03-06 14:08
Vatican City - Pope John Paul II made a brief appearance at his 10th-floor hospital window on Sunday, waving to hymn-singing pilgrims below and making the sign of the cross.
The 84-year-old pope, who is recovering from a throat operation, looking gaunt but in reasonably good form, did not attempt to address the crowd during his brief appearance.
Shortly before, in a message read out by an aide to pilgrims in St Peter's Square, the pope thanked Jews and Muslims for their prayers for his recovery.
"I want to express special recognition of the closeness of believers of other religions, particularly Jews and Muslims.
"Some of them wanted to come and pray here at the hospital. And that for me is a comforting sign, for which I thank God."
Pilgrims on the square were able to see the pope on giant screens, hunched in his wheelchair, following the broadcast from hospital, as Archbishop Leonardi Sandri performed the Angelus blessing.
- AFP