Ailing Pope Skips Weekly Gathering
Pope John Paul II missed his general audience because of a mild intestinal problem, raising new concerns about his health just weeks before he is to preside at ceremonies marking his 25th year as pontiff.
The pope, 83, instead addressed the crowd at the Vatican in an audio message, although he spoke with a weak voice and slurred his words.
John Paul was to have traveled from his vacation home south of Rome to Vatican City to greet thousands of the faithful. But doctors advised against the trip after he developed the intestinal illness, the Vatican said.
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