Pope to miss Easter this year, believers pray for his health

Vatican City – Roman Catholics worldwide are praying fervently for the health of the Pope John Paul II even as news flood in that his health has worsened and he will not be able to take part in any of the services during the Holy Week.

While Vatican workers were decking out St Peter's Square with tens of thousands of flowers from the Netherlands and lining up chairs, the Pope's absence at all events leading up to Easter this week hang heavy in the air. In spite of the most joyous day in the Christian calendar round the corner, the hearts of the pilgrims in Vatican are tinged with sadness and uncertainty because of the frail health of the Pope.

Perhaps Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa best described the mood in the Vatican and Rome this Easter Season. “Get well soon. Come back soon, Holy Father, Easter is not Easter without you,” he said in a sermon at a Good Friday afternoon service in St Peter's Basilica.

The ailing 84–year–old Pope will miss an Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter's Basilica today night, just as for the first time in his 26–year–old pontificate he has missed all services since Holy Week started on Palm Sunday six days ago.

The Saturday night Mass will be celebrated for him by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and one of the Pope's closest aides.

The Pope is expected to watch on television.

His participation on Easter Sunday morning is expected to be reduced to the bare minimum in order to allow him to conserve his strength and continue his convalescence from throat surgery performed on February 24.

According to Vatican sources the Pope, who returned to the Vatican from hospital on March 13, is expected to deliver only his Easter ''Urbi et Orbi'' (to the city and the world) blessing, perhaps just with a gesture of the hand.