Pope, needing rest, skips annual Mass for students

Published: 2003-10-24

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- After an intense week of public liturgies and ceremonies, the Vatican said Pope John Paul II would not participate as planned in an annual Vatican Mass for university students. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Oct. 24 the decision was made in "an attempt to lighten his calendar a bit after all the activity of the past week." The Mass was scheduled for later the same day. The spokesman insisted there was no cause for alarm over the pope's health; he simply needed some rest after the celebrations of his 25th anniversary as pope Oct. 16, the Oct. 19 beatification of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Oct. 21-22 ceremonies to create new cardinals.

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