The Pope to Spend Holy Week in the Vatican

VATICAN CITY, MAR 10, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration to journalists, concerning the Pope's health:

"The Holy Father, accepting the advice of his doctors, will extend his stay in Gemelli' Polyclinic by a few more days, in order to complete his convalescence which is progressing regularly.

"I do not expect to issue another communique before Monday, March 14."

In reply to questions from journalists, Navarro-Valls confirmed that "the Pope will spend Holy Week in the Vatican." He indicated that the Angelus this coming Sunday would "follow the same model as the two previous Sundays." Lastly, the press office director recalled that the Pope continues to receive his collaborators, "with whom he follows the activity of the Holy See and the life of the Church. Yesterday, for example, he received Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State. Thus, he has resumed the meetings he customarily holds when working in the Vatican."

Source.