Priests and presidents,pilgrims and politicians arrived in Rome from around the world today to fete an ailing Pope John Paul as he prepares tomark the 25th anniversary of his historic pontificate.
The 83-year-old pope, who suffers from Parkinson's diseaseand can no longer walk, appeared markedly better at his generalaudience in St Peter's Square, one day before the anniversary.
He spoke in a voice that was much clearer than it has beenrecently and clearly recognised cardinals who greeted him at theend of the audience for thousands of people.
"I would like to express my gratitude for the good wishesand prayers that people have made for the 25th anniversary of mypontificate," he said in Italian.
He invited everyone to join him in St Peter's Square tomorrow evening for a mass at about the same time as he firstappeared to the world as pope on October 16, 1978, minutes afterhe was elected the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years.
Among the cardinals was Bernard Law, the former archbishopof Boston who resigned after a child sex scandal that began inhis diocese and swept across the United States last year.
Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and former PolishPresident Lech Walesa, the leader of the Solidarity free tradeunion whose rise led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989,were both coming to Rome.
Nuns, children, workers and even US astronauts are alsodescending on the Vatican for the occasion.
"It is very exciting, almost as exciting as being in space,maybe more exciting," said Mike Massimino, who took part in a2002 mission aboard the space shuttle Columbia.