No weekly general audience, but pope blesses crowd from his window

Published: 2005-03-23

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Even though the Vatican announced Pope John Paul II's March 23 general audience was canceled, the pilgrims came anyway and were rewarded with a brief appearance by the pope. In the hopes of seeing the pope, large groups from Poland, Spain, Mexico and Italy staked themselves out in St. Peter's Square early March 23, unfurled their banners, waved their flags, and sang hymns in their respective languages. "They should let him rest; he's sick," said Thomas Keene of Dallas. "But I suppose he'd want to be with the people anyway." A few minutes later, a written announcement in Italian flashed onto four large video screens installed before Holy Week in the square: "The Holy Father will come to his studio window at 11:00 to bless the faithful."

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