Christians around the world commemorated the death of Christ on Good Friday and a senior cardinal sought to reassure Roman Catholics, saying Pope John Paul was still "lucid" despite his great physical frailty.
The 84-year-old Pope, who is making a difficult recovery from throat surgery performed last month, will be sidelined on the most somber day of the Christian calendar.
The Pope normally presides at three events on Good Friday.
In past years he heard confessions of ordinary faithful in St. Peter's Basilica, presided at an afternoon Passion of the Lord service in the basilica and then attended a "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross) procession at Rome's ancient Colosseum.
The Pope, whose health is said still to be precarious, may join Catholics at the evening procession via a video link from his apartments but he has delegated a cardinal to represent him.
He was last seen in public on Wednesday, when he appeared from his window for little more than a minute. He looked gaunt, pale and pained and did not speak. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the head of the powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told an Italian television program the Pope was physically weak but lucid.
"The Pope is working in absolute lucidity," Ratzinger said during an Italian television program called "The Pope's Calvary," due to be broadcast Friday night before the Way of the Cross procession.
"And, given the physical trials John Paul II is going through, even this is a gift from God," Ratzinger said.
Calvary is the hill outside Jerusalem where Christ was crucified.
For the first time in his pontificate, now in its 27th year, the Pope has been forced to designate senior cardinals to represent him at all Holy Week events leading up to Easter on Sunday.
He is expected to deliver his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing after his secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, has presided at Easter mass for him.
But it is doubtful that he will be able to read his traditional Easter message and greeting in various languages.
The Pope underwent a tracheotomy to relieve severe breathing problems on Feb. 24. He has spent a total of 28 days in two stints at Rome's Gemelli hospital in the past two months.
Since he left hospital on March 13 the Pope, who also suffers from Parkinson's Disease and severe arthritis, has made four very brief appearances but has not spoken a word in public.
Vatican sources say his recovery from surgery is slower than they had hoped.
The Vatican has not commented on media reports that his medication was causing problems that include difficulties with breathing and feeding, headaches, vomiting and general weakness.
Doctor Rodolfo Proietti, head of the medical team that treated the Pope in Gemelli Hospital, has said the Pope is not expected to return to hospital.
The Pope still has a tube, known as a cannula, in his throat to help him breathe and medical experts have said he will probably have to keep it there for the rest of his life.