Pope 'may return to Vatican by Easter'
 | |
| |
|  VIDEO |
 Fragile pope appears at the window of his hospital room.
 CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explains the tracheotomy procedure.
 The 84-year-old pope suffers from a number of chronic ailments.
|
RELATED |
• Papal resignations rare
• Pope holds virtual audience
|
|
ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The condition of Pope John Paul II, hospitalized since last week for breathing problems, "continues to improve," the Vatican has said in a statement.
Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls also told The Associated Press on Thursday "it's possible" the pope might be back at the Vatican in time for Easter celebrations on March 27.
Navarro-Valls has said the pope is anxious to return to the Vatican by the end of the month but that the 84-year-old pontiff is listening to his doctors' advice.
The pope continues to show progress, is eating regularly and is spending a few hours each day sitting up in an armchair, the Vatican statement said.
He continues rehabilitation exercises for his voice and breathing, and his surgery wound from a tracheotomy is healing.
"The health of the Holy Father John Paul II continues to improve and show progress," the statement said, according to AP. "As previously stated, the pope is eating regularly and spends several hours each day in an armchair. The surgical wound is healing."
It said the pope's daily therapy to improve his ability to breathe and speak were continuing "with the active collaboration of the Holy Father," and that the next medical update was not expected until Monday.
The pope entered Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 25 for a relapse of the flu, and he underwent the tracheotomy the same day to relieve breathing difficulties. He also was hospitalized from February 1 to February 10.
On Tuesday, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said the pontiff was able to speak again, and that he spoke to a visitor in German and Italian.
The pope has been receiving several top churchmen "with whom he daily follows the activity of the Holy See and the life of the church," Navarro-Valls told reporters, AP said.
The spokesman said the Vatican would decide on Saturday what the pope's schedule for Sunday would be, but that it was likely an archbishop would read out the Angelus prayer and blessing to the faithful just as this past Sunday, AP reported.
The traditional Angelus blessing was conducted Sunday at St. Peter's Square without the pope present for the first time since he has been pontiff.
The pope did appear briefly in his hospital window Sunday, making the sign of the cross at crowds gathered outside the hospital.
Roman Catholics worldwide have lit candles and prayed for the life of the pope, who has led the church and its more than 1 billion followers for more than a quarter of a century.
The pope suffers from a number of chronic illnesses, including crippling hip and knee ailments and Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder that can make breathing difficult.
Last week's procedure was his 10th operation. He has had a hip replacement and survived a 1981 assassination attempt.
Despite his health difficulties, John Paul II has insisted that he will carry out his mission until the end of his life. No pope has stepped down from the post since the 15th century.
Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
