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Religion

Sick pope will miss Angelus blessing

VATICAN CITY - Breaking a tradition he kept even after being shot two decades ago, Pope John Paul II will not lead Sunday prayers for the first time in his 26-year papacy as he recovers from a throat operation to help him breathe.

With the 84-year-old pontiff advised by attending physicians not to speak after surgery to insert a breathing tube and too delicate to appear at his hospital window, a top Vatican official will bless the faithful assembled at St. Peter's Square, the Vatican said Saturday.

The Holy See, the seat of religious authority in Rome, confirmed there were no plans for the pontiff to make a brief public appearance at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic hospital during today's Angelus blessing, a weekly tradition dear to the pope.

Instead, he will "join" the prayers in what the Vatican newspaper called an "Angelus of hope."

While there was no indication the decision signaled any change in the pope's condition, it was a sign of the uncertainty the pope's incapacity may create. The Vatican has not said when the pope will leave the hospital and another medical bulletin is not scheduled until Monday.

Today will be the first time the pope will not appear or have his voice heard at an Angelus service.

Each detail of the pope's condition was shadowed by uncertainty, including how long the device inserted in his throat would remain and if he would eventually regain full command of his voice.

The pope's transport to Gemelli on Thursday crushed hopes that he was out of danger after a 10-day hospital stay that ended Feb. 10. Just a day earlier, he made his longest public appearance since leaving the hospital.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said there was no sign of fever or pneumonia, which could complicate recovery.

[Last modified February 27, 2005, 00:14:06]