Sad Easter for Catholics as Pope still sidelined

VATICAN CITY - Roman Catholics around the world on Saturday approached Easter knowing that the most joyous day in the Christian calendar will be tinged with sadness and uncertainty because of the frail health of Pope John Paul.

While Vatican workers were decking out St Peter's Square with tens of thousands of flowers from the Netherlands and lining up chairs, the Pope's absence at all events leading up to Easter this week hang heavy in the air.

Perhaps Father Raniero Cantalamessa best described the mood in the Vatican and Rome this Easter Season.

"Get well soon. Come back soon, Holy Father, Easter is not Easter without you," he said in a sermon at a Good Friday afternoon service in St Peter's Basilica.

The ailing 84-year-old Pope will miss an Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter's Basilica on Saturday night, just as for the first time in his 26-year-old pontificate he has missed all services since Holy Week started on Palm Sunday six days ago.

The Saturday night Mass will be celebrated for him by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and one of the Pope's closest aides.

The Pope is expected to watch on television.

His participation on Easter Sunday morning is expected to be reduced to the bare minimum in order to allow him to conserve his strength and continue his convalescence from throat surgery performed on Feb. 24.

According to Vatican sources the Pope, who returned to the Vatican from hospital on March 13, is expected to deliver only his Easter "Urbi et Orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing, perhaps just with a gesture of the hand.

It was still not clear if he will have the strength to speak. The last time he spoke in public was two weeks ago.

An aide, Aarchbishop Leonardo Sandri, is slated to read the Pope's Easter message for him and read Easter greetings in many languages -- both of which the Pope normally does.

Easter is the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar since it commemorates Christ's resurrection from the dead three days after his crucifixion.

The Pope last appeared to the faithful via a video link on Friday night. He remained in his chapel in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace while thousands of people took part in a "Via Crucis" (Way of the Cross) service at Rome's Colosseum.

Television pictures showed the Pope only from behind and the from the side as he watched the live, 90-minute event.

Rome's Il Messaggero newspaper said it was "worrying" that the Pope's full face was not shown.

But a Vatican source said the Pope was "serene" as he watched the event in the chapel.

The Pope still has a tube, known as a cannula, in his throat to help him breathe. Church sources said the decision not to put a camera in front of him was in part to make him feel more comfortable as he watched the long event.

The Pope underwent a tracheotomy to relieve severe breathing problems on Feb. 24 and spent a total of 28 days in two stints at Rome's Gemelli hospital in the past two months.

Since he left hospital on March 13 the Pope, who also suffers from Parkinson's Disease and severe arthritis, has made five appearances, three from his window and two via television.

Vatican sources say his recovery from was going slower than they had hoped. There is no indication when he might be able to resume normal activities.

- REUTERS