Pope greets Palm Sunday pilgrims

POPE JOHN PAUL II, unable to preside over Palm Sunday Mass for the first time in his 26-year papacy, appeared at his apartment window to greet tens of thousands of pilgrims who filled St Peter’s Square yesterday.

The crowd cheered as the Pope appeared at the third-floor window, and waved an olive branch to pilgrims who jammed the sun-drenched square for the ceremony ushering in Holy Week.

He appeared for no more than a minute, and did not speak, before the white curtains at his window were drawn closed.