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Ailing Pope appears for sunday blessing
A weak Pope John Paul made a surprise appearance at his Rome hospital window Sunday, reassuring Catholics around the world after an aide at the Vatican presided for the first time at his weekly blessing. Looking stiff and awkward, the 84-year-old Pope waved twice from the 10th floor window of the Gemelli hospital before aides wheeled his chair away.
He appeared for about two minutes with the windows closed and made the sign of the cross toward a small group of people below, some of whom broke into tears when they saw him. The Angelus prayer usually takes place wherever the Pope is at noon on Sundays. For John Paul to be elsewhere was a sad first in a 26-year-old papacy studded with startling records.
It was the first time the Pope had been seen in public since he was rushed to hospital Thursday morning with acute breathing problems that necessitated a tracheotomy.
?I saw his hand raised. I?m telling you, I had faith. I?d been praying he?d come. The world still needs this Pope. I hope we?ll see much more of him in the future,? said Laura Tosti, an Italian waiting outside, her eyes welling up with tears.The Pope did not appear at the hospital until Sandri had finished in the square.
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