Ailing Pope Conducts Mass in the Hospital
From Times Wire Reports
Pope John Paul II celebrated Ash Wednesday in his hospital room, missing public prayers opening the Lenten season of fasting and reflection for the first time in 26 years.
The frail 84-year-old pope, surrounded by doctors treating him for flu and breathing trouble, celebrated Mass in his suite at Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic.
John Paul received ashes he had blessed earlier during a ceremony at the hospital. The pope invited his doctor, Renato Buzzonetti, and others to join him, a papal spokesman said.
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