Health concerns as frail Pope stumbles over speech

Weary and trembling, Pope John Paul struggled to greet the faithful today as he began a gruelling four-day visit to Slovakia that was testing his age and ailments from the start.

The frail 83-year-old pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and crippling hip and knee ailments, appeared short of breath and read his arrival speech at Bratislava airport in a badly slurred voice.