Very briefly the Pope made an appearance at his window overlooking St Peter’s Square from his Vatican home. He then made an attempt to bless the crowd that turned up to see him on the day that he usually holds his general audience. However, when the microphone was put to his mouth, he could do little more than make some sounds – with no clear words identifiable. The microphone was then removed hastily.
For under five minutes the Pope remained at his window facing the crowd and once again made the sign of the cross to the adoring crowd below.
Recently on Easter Sunday, the Pope also made an attempt to address the crowd but also was unable to project any words. Reports of people crying in the crowd were recorded on that day.
Just two days ago the Pope also failed to give his traditional Easter Monday blessing for the first time since he undertook his papacy. After 27 years leading the Roman Catholic Church many now are commenting that the Pope’s condition has deteriorated so much that he will be unable to continue in his role.
Today, Italian media also reported that the Pope’s doctors were debating about whether a feeding tube should be inserted into the Pope’s stomach as he is also supposedly having great difficulties swallowing.
However, this was followed promptly with news that the Pope was being fed through a nasal tube to boost his strength and help his recovery from throat surgery.
Chief Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said, "To improve his caloric intake and promote an efficient recovery of his strength, nutrition via the positioning of a nasal-gastric tube has begun."
Over the past two months the Pope has been hospitalised on two separate occasions – on the second of his visits he has to have a tracheotomy operation on 24th February to ease his breathing difficulties. Currently John Paul II still has a tube inserted into his windpipe to aid his respiration.