Pope sends message to the sick

Pope John Paul, back in the Vatican after hospital treatment but still frail, sent a message of support to the sick today, saying he feels especially close with them and asking for their prayers.

The Pope’s letter was read at Mass at St Peter’s Basilica for the Church’s World Day of the Sick.

Before falling ill with the flu and breathing problems last week, the pontiff had planned to attend.

John Paul sent his greetings especially to the sick, ”with whom I feel particularly close,” said the message, which was read by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope’s vicar for Rome. The congregation broke into applause.

“Your suffering is never useless, dear sick ones,” the Pope’s message said. Pain is precious, he said, because it has a mysterious link to Christ’s trial on the cross.

“For that reason the Pope counts deeply on the importance of your prayers and your suffering,” the message said.

”Offer them up to the Church and to the world, offer them also for me and for my mission as universal shepherd of the Christian people.”

Many had hoped the Pope would show up. Ruini said he was following the service on television.