Pope will 'carry out mission to end'

EVEN though Pope John Paul is increasingly unable to complete his speeches as a result of Parkinson's disease, he can still carry out his mission and shows no sign of resigning, several cardinals said yesterday.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, though, hinted that the time might come when the Vatican has to reevaluate how to cope with a pontiff who has so relied on his skills as a communicator during his 25-year papacy but can no longer speak.

"His mind, his capacity for projecting things, for putting new goals, is absolutely intact," said Navarro-Valls.

John Paul has had trouble speaking for several years as a result of Parkinson's disease, which causes him to slur his words. Recently, however, he has occasionally been unable to deliver his full speeches, often only saying a line or two before turning the text over to an aide to finish.

Cardinals who are gathering in Rome for celebrations surrounding John Paul's 25th anniversary as pope tomorrow said that even though he has such difficulty speaking, he shows no sign of stepping down or turning leadership of the Roman Catholic Church over.

"He still seems to be able to do it," said Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington. "As long as God lets him do it, he's going to continue doing it."

John Paul himself has made it clear he does not intend to resign, saying he will carry out his mission to the end.

Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, head of the Congregation of the Causes of Saints, said that only the pope can decide what he would do if he loses the ability to communicate.

"Evidently it would have to be evaluated, it would have consequences, but it wouldn't be fundamental for the pope's work," he said.

"The word is very important for those who govern, but the Holy See is governed more by the head than by the word."