Pope misses Easter Monday blessing for first time

TO the disappointment and concern of the faithful, the ailing Pope John Paul failed to appear at his window on Easter Monday but there was no indication that the Pontiff’s health had worsened.

Several thousand people, some from the Pope’s native Poland, converged on St Peter’s Square and chanted his name in the hope of drawing the Catholic leader to the window.

The traditional event marking the end of Holy Week celebrations had been on a calendar of papal events for March but had not been confirmed after the Pope left hospital two weeks ago following surgery to relieve breathing problems.