Silent Pope blesses crowd with sign of cross

People’s hands flew to their faces and some wept as they witnessed Pope John Paul’s struggle in front of a microphone, where he managed only a few sounds before he gave up and delivered his Easter blessing with a sign of the cross.

Many applauded the Pontiff’s efforts as his poor health prevented him from speaking to them on the holiest day of the church calendar in a dramatic appearance yesterday at his window overlooking St Peter’s Square.