Pope John Paul's recovery from throat surgery is going slower than hoped for, raising even more doubts over if and when he can resume normal activities, Vatican sources said on today.
"Unfortunately, things are not going as well as we would have hoped," a Vatican monsignor told repoters.
"These are the ups and downs of post-operative convalescence for a man of his age and condition." "It is clear the Pope is suffering a lot," said another cleric who works in the Vatican.
Dr Rodolfo Proietti, head of the medical team that treated the Pope while he was in Rome's Gemelli Hospital until March 13th, was quoted by the Italian news agency Ansa as saying that no new hospitalisation was "foreseen" for the time being.
Vatican sources said the 84-year-old Pope, who was last seen in public on Sunday, would have to miss this week's Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) procession at the Colosseum on Good Friday.
The Pope, who also suffers from Parkinson's Disease, had hoped to be able to attend the ritual.
Rome was awash with rumours last night that the Pope had suffered a serious setback earlier in the day and several Italian newspapers today reported he had a brief breathing crisis.
One newspaper, Rome's Il Messaggero, quoted an unnamed Polish priest as having been told by the Pope's secretary: "Pray for the Pope because his condition is worsening."
The Pope underwent a tracheotomy to relieve severe breathing problems on February 24th. He spent a total of 28 days in two stints at the hospital. Since his release, the Pope has made three brief appearances, two from his window overlooking St Peter's Square and one on a video link from his apartments.
The absence during Holy Week of the Pope, now in the 27th year of his papacy, has hung heavy in the air. Holy Week is the busiest and most important period in the Church's liturgical calendar. The Pope has even delegated the Easter Sunday mass to a cardinal but is expected to deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.