Pope blesses faithful but struggles to speak
The Pope appeared at his studio window for about four minutes today, blessed pilgrims in St Peter's Square and tried to speak, but the words were not clear.
The ailing pontiff raised his hand in blessing and made the sign of the cross as a Vatican official read greetings and prayers.
John Paul appeared alert during the appearance, which drew cheers from thousands of pilgrims gathered in the square beneath his window.
The appearance came amid media reports that the 84-year-old pontiff may have to return to the hospital to have a feeding tube inserted since he is having trouble swallowing with the breathing tube that was inserted last month.
However, Nicola Cerbino, a spokesman at the Polyclinic Gemelli hospital where John Paul was rushed twice last month, said today that was no plan to admit the Pope.
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