ROME, MARCH 4, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II continues to improve and hopes to appear on Sunday at his hospital window, reported the Vatican.
Vatican spokesman Joaquín Navarro Valls told reporters today that the Angelus «will be as last Sunday: the Pope will participate, imparting the blessing with his hand.»
«However, we will only have 100% confirmation tomorrow,» he said.
«The rehabilitation exercises are proceeding well,» Navarro Valls added.
The Holy Father is performing respiratory exercises to recover his voice after the tracheotomy he underwent Feb. 24 to ease his breathing.
Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Secretariat of State, read a brief message last Sunday on behalf of the Pope at the Angelus. The message centered on Lent and the «value of suffering.»
After the prelate imparted the blessing on behalf of the Pope, John Paul II appeared at his hospital window to greet and bless those gathered outside the Gemelli Hospital.
The last statement on the Holy Father’s health was published yesterday. It confirmed that his health conditions are «improving progressively and continuously,» and that «the surgical wound [resulting from the tracheotomy] is healing.»
The next statement on the Pope’s health will be published Monday, March 7.
