 The Pope is said to have improved physically in recent months |
Pope John Paul II has celebrated his 83rd birthday with a ceremony in St Peter's Square in Rome at which he canonised four new saints - two fellow Poles and two Italians. Tens of thousands of people attended a special Mass in the square, among them Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski.
The Pope, who suffers from the degenerative condition known as Parkinson's disease and severe arthritis, used a hydraulic chair that allows him to celebrate Mass while seated.
He is set to mark the 25th anniversary of his papacy later this year, making him one of the longest-serving pontiffs in history.
The crowd sang Happy Birthday as well as the traditional Polish greeting "Stolat" which means "may you live 100 years".
 If we want to look for the secret weapon that has allowed him to conquer the years and Parkinson's, then we must look to prayer  Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re |
The Pope thanked all those who had sent him birthday greetings.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says his voice was firm and he seemed in much better form than in recent months.
The Pope refuses to let his growing immobility dictate his working life.
This weekend he received an honorary degree from Rome University as well as officiating at the long liturgy in St Peter's Square and receiving distinguished visitors.
The Pope's secret weapon is prayer according to one of his cardinals.
He is shortly off again on his travels to Croatia, Bosnia and Slovakia - visits which will mark his 100th overseas tour since becoming Pope.
He is even contemplating a visit to Russia and Mongolia in August although this might not be possible if the Sars epidemic continues to spread.
One-Minute World News 
News services
Email this to a friend 
Printable version 
