Pope may leave hospital before Easter

Pope John Paul II is “progressively improving” and following the Church’s activities daily, the Vatican said today, suggesting he might be released from the hospital in time for Easter.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the wound on John Paul’s throat after surgery to insert a breathing tube was healing. He said the frail, 84-year-old pontiff wants to return to the Vatican, “but at the same time, he accepts doctors’ advice” not to rush back after suffering his second breathing crisis in a month.