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.

Vatican television did not zoom in on Pope John Paul as it has in his past window appearances at the Vatican and earlier at the Rome hospital that treated him for a breathing crisis.

"With great joy I salute you," the Pope said earlier in remarks read by an archbishop that included a special welcome for young people.

Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar for Rome, led the service in his place. The Mass included a special prayer for the 84-year-old Pontiff, calling him "our beloved father" and asking that he continue in his "service up to the gift of life".

A long line of cardinals, bishops and priests holding olive branches and palm fronds walked into the square in procession at the start of the Mass, which commemorates Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Pope John Paul, who was discharged from the hospital last Sunday, has long presided over the ceremony marking the start of the most important week in the Roman Catholic liturgical year and which has been one of this Pope's favourite appointments.

"It will be an unusual opening, that of Holy Week" without the Pope at Palm Sunday Mass, Vatican Radio said.

The Pope is convalescing at the Vatican after throat surgery to insert a tube in his windpipe and ease his second breathing crisis in less than a month.

He has only spoken twice publicly each time just a few sentences delivered in a raspy voice since the operation. He also suffers from Parkinson's disease, which affects muscle control and makes it difficult for him to speak clearly.

Yesterday kicked off a busy week of events culminating next Easter Sunday. The Pope has designated other prelates to stand in for him, and the Vatican says his only commitment is his Easter blessing.