Pope (82) 'to carry on'
2002-05-18 11:47
Vatican City - As Pope John Paul II celebrated his 82nd birthday on Saturday the Vatican's official newspaper sought to dispel fears over his health by stressing his determination to carry on.
L'Osservatore Romano carried front-page wishes for a long life, and recalled the pontiff's request for spiritual support from Catholics to help him "carry on with the ministry that God has conferred on me".
The pope, who is due on Wednesday to embark on a trip to
Azerbaijan and Bulgaria, is confined to a wheelchair by arthritis
and Parkinson's disease, and there has recently been renewed
speculation that he might opt to step down.
Birthday celebrations were due to include a midday party for
7 000 people, complete with a choir singing "Happy birthday, Holy Father" and a cake from the pope's native Poland. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA