Bilingual Pope talks to aides

The Pope spoke with a top Vatican official in German and Italian today, a cardinal said, suggesting the ailing pontiff was making significant strides toward recovery after throat surgery to ease a breathing crisis.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said John Paul used both languages in a working meeting at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic hospital, where the 84-year-old pontiff is recovering from last week’s operation to insert a breathing tube in his throat.