Joaquín Navarro Valls confirmed that the Pope, from his room on the 10th floor of the hospital, either hears the voices of his young supporters or is informed by aides about the groups that come to visit him.
This explains «Wednesday’s surprise,» when the Holy Father appeared at his window after being told that «many people had arrived, especially children,» the director of the Vatican press office told Vatican Radio.
Today, a group of students from Milan’s Candia secondary school arrived at the Gemelli. They were on a school excursion with their teachers and sang for the Pope in Polish.
John Paul II thanked them by having one of his aides distribute Easter greeting cards among them.
On Wednesday, the Pontiff received a delegation of representatives of the World Union for Progressive Judaism who came from Israel, England and the United States.
Stanley Davids, one of the rabbis, said that with their presence they wished to «pray and comfort the Pope, as he has been extraordinary in stretching out his hand to the Jewish people.»
