Pope misses Ash Wednesday prayers for first time

ROMAN Catholic faithful prayed for Pope John Paul's recovery yesterday as he missed out on Ash Wednesday prayers that ushered in the solemn and sacred Lenten season for the first time in his 26-year papacy.

Though the Vatican says the 84-year-old pope's health continues to improve since he was rushed to hospital with breathing spasms and the flu, doctors persuaded him to prolong his stay to be on the safe side.

His eighth night in hospital passed calmly, the ANSA news agency reported.

In services later at St Peter's Basilica, American Cardinal James Stafford presided in the name of John Paul a reluctant substitution for a Pope deeply stirred by the traditional period of penitence, sacrifice and reflection that culminates with Easter.

Cardinal Stafford read his own homily in Italian, conveying no message from the Pope to the Vatican's resident cardinals, archbishops, bishops and others assembled for a ceremony originally scheduled as a papal event.

Several thousand faithful attended the prayer service, which involved the sprinkling of ashes on prelates and believers.

An unidentified layman offered a prayer asking God to "grant health and comfort to our beloved Pope John Paul II so that he may continue his pastoral ministry for the good of the Church and all humanity."

The Vatican did not say whether the Pope did anything in his room at the Gemelli Polyclinic hospital to mark Ash Wednesday, which he had not missed with public prayers since becoming Pope in 1978.

Officials say the pontiff has been holding Mass regularly for the doctors and nurses treating him at the clinic. He is expected to remain there at least until today, when the Holy See issues its medical update.

The Pope's long struggle with Parkinson's disease and crippling hip and knee ailments have many Roman Catholics questioning how long he can continue to serve.

The Vatican's number two official, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, caused a stir this week by publicly suggesting for the first time that the Vatican may be discussing the issue.

Popes may resign, but cannot be forced to do so, and John Paul repeatedly has said he has no intention of abdicating. The last time a Pope willingly resigned was in the 13th century.

"It is bad taste to talk about it, and it's even worse because the starting point of this debate is the Pope's flu," said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re yesterday.