The Vatican has tried to put the bravest face on what is turning into a difficult situation, writes Fr Michael Collins.
The brief appearance of Pope John Paul II on Easter Sunday can have done little to reassure people of his condition. At the end of Mass celebrated by Cardinal Sodano in St Peter's Square, the voile curtains of the Pope's study window parted, and the elderly pontiff was wheeled to bless the crowds.
Despite his effort, he was unable to utter a word. Indeed, he has not spoken in public since March 13th. His head moved spasmodically as he tried to reach out to the faithful gathered in the square below.
None but the most cold-hearted can fail to be moved to tears at the sight of the frail pontiff's evident plight. A man who loved to banter with the crowds is now barely able to croak a word. Although he bravely continues to appear in public, he causes anguish to those who see him.
On his last foreign visit last August, the Pope visited the shrine of Lourdes in France. "Pray for me," he said quietly to pilgrims gathered in the grotto. "I am an old, sick man."
Over the past eight months his condition has worsened. Since his first hospitalisation in early February, the Pope has had to virtually relinquish effective government of the church.
This is slowly turning into the Vatican's worst nightmare. A number of cardinals have made vaguely reassuring comments on the Pope's health. Cardinal Ratzinger stated in Holy Week that he was lucid, hardly the most reassuring choice of words.
The Vatican has tried to put the bravest face on the situation: not so much about the pontiff's health as the day-to-day running of the church. The claims that the Pope is able to give verbal directions or written instructions seem exaggerated. So who is running the church?
On paper Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the secretary of state, is the Pope's chief assistant. The 77-year- old Italian native of Piedmont has occupied the position since 1990. A career diplomat, he is respected as a fair and efficient administrator.
Observers note that his taciturn disposition preserves him from diplomatic gaffes, although he seems to have made one some weeks ago. Asked by a journalist if he thought the Pope would retire, the cardinal replied: "We have to have enormous trust in him. He knows what he should do according to his conscience."
Despite his reaching retirement age two years ago, Pope John Paul asked him to remain at his post. Having worked closely with the Pope for 15 years, he can certainly be said to know the pontiff's mind.
Someone with a greater claim to know the Pope's thinking is Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz. For more than 40 years, Stanislaw Dziwisz has served Karol Wojtyla as his private secretary. He entered his service shortly after ordination.
When Cardinal Wojtyla was elected Pope in 1978, the young Pole found himself catapulted into the international limelight with his patron.
Friends often note the affection between the two, like father and son. He has been at his side almost all of this papacy. It was Don Stanislaw who caught the pontiff when he was shot in St Peter's Square in 1981. At the Vatican, Don Stanislaw oversaw who had access to the pontiff.
In recent years, as the Pope's health declined, Don Stanislaw had to become even more vigilant, irritating some prelates who insisted on a greater degree of accessibility.
In gratitude for his untiring service, Pope John Paul consecrated Don Stanislaw bishop on March 19th, 1998. He was appointed prefect adjunct of the papal household in time for the jubilee year of 2000, giving him an official footing in the Vatican.
Long before the Pope lost his voice, 62-year-old Archbishop Leonardo Sandri had taken to reading the pontiff's speeches in public. A native of Argentina, he is the substitute at the Secretariat of State. A benign Latin American, his workload continues to increase as the Pope's health deteriorates.
Three other cardinals play an important role. Giovanni Battista Re is in charge of the Congregation for Bishops, a key office that appoints bishops. He is tipped to succeed Cardinal Sodano.
The Bavarian Cardinal Ratzinger, who turns 78 on April 16th, is the prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, an office that looks after doctrinal matters. He has already taken to submitting questions in writing, in such manner that the Pope need only respond Yes or No.
Cardinal Camillo Ruini is the vicar for Rome and runs the diocese on a day-to-day basis. A strict disciplinarian devoted to the letter of the law, he seems quite capable of carrying on without disturbing the Pope unduly.
In addition, a further dozen cardinals administer a number of departments. Technically they are answerable to the Pope, but in practice they usually take their lead from the secretary of state.
What we tend to forget is the nature of the relationship of these men with the Pope. Although the pontiff is their superior, given the friendly nature of John Paul it is difficult not to regard him also as a friend.
Whenever there is a birthday or other important celebration, the Pope usually invites them to lunch. There is, therefore, an extraordinary bond of loyalty, which has been forged over many years of working together.
What is the future outlook? In reality, nobody knows. In past centuries, Popes could get ill and relinquish government of the church to trusted collaborators. That was before the invention of television, internet and almost instant communications. It will be impossible to keep the situation under wraps.
Since the Pope is quite evidently unable to speak, and perhaps not even write, it will be impossible to keep up the myth that he is effectively governing the church. The medical team that is caring for him insists that the Pope limit his public and private engagements to the minimum. It will become evident that he will no longer be able to administer the various departments of the Vatican.
It is likely all power will gravitate to Cardinal Sodano and Archbishop Sandri. Without the unifying presence of the Pope, it would be natural to expect some differences of opinion to develop. The task of Cardinal Sodano will be to keep such various factions together.
Although many people wonder why the Pope does not step down, the pontiff himself does not seem to consider such an eventuality. He may very well see these coming days as yet another opportunity of teaching people the value of life, and death.
Michael Collins is a priest of the Dublin Diocese and author of The Fisherman's Net, the Influence of the Papacy on History