ROME - A healthy looking Pope John Paul II marked his 77th birthday yesterday joking that although he was approaching his "sunset" he hoped to live to be 100.
Thousands of people turned out to file the Pope at a Rome parish in a crowded, working class neighbourhood where he said a morning Mass and later for his blessing in St Peter's Square.
Despite recent health problems, the Pope appeared in good form, joking and smiling as he expressed gratitude for birthday greetings from around the world.