Vatican City (AsiaNews) John Paul II blessed the crowd and greeted the faithful in St Peter's Square for the first time since he was hospitalised on February 1 and went back to the Vatican on February 10.
Greeted by the applause of tens of thousands of faithful present in the square, the Pope appeared from his study window overlooking St Peter's Square to say: "Dear brothers and sisters. Welcome!"
Everyone hoped he would personally offer his reflections before the Angelus prayer, but, instead, the voice of Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, Substitute of the Secretariat of State, read out the text in which John Paul Giovanni Paolo II spoke with gratitude about the affection of all those who prayed for him during his stay at the Gemelli hospital.
"I always feel the need for your help before the Lord to perform the mission that Christ gave me," the Pope said.
Archbishop Sandri also read out the Marian prayers whilst the Pope followed in silence from his study window. But it was in his tired but clear voice, that the Holy Father gave his blessing to the warm applause of the faithful.
As the greetings were read in French and Polish, he Pope waved to the crowd with his right hand. At the end, he once again greeted the crowd wishing "Good Sunday to all".
As announced in the Pope's reflections, this evening at 6 pm, he and the Curia shall begin Lenten spiritual exercises in the Redemptoris Mater chapel.
This year, the meditations are proposed by Mgr Renato Corti, Bishop of Novara (northern Italy) and have as theme: The Church at the service of the new and eternal Alliance.
Here are the Pope's reflections that Archbishop Sandri read out before the Marian prayer:
"Dear brothers and sisters!"
"We meet again in this place to praise the Lord. I want to thank youand all those who follow us by radio and televisionfor your closeness and affection and especially for your prayers during my stay at the Gemelli Hospital. I always need you help before the Lord to perform the mission that Christ gave me."
"Last Wednesday, during the Ash ceremony, we began Lent, the liturgical period that every year reminds us of a fundamental truth: we cannot enter eternal life without bearing our own cross in union with Christ. We cannot find happiness and peace without courageously facing an inner struggle."
"It is a struggle that we can win with the weapons of penance: prayer, fasting and acts of mercy.
All this has to be accomplishment away from other people's eyes, without hypocrisy, in a spirit of sincere love towards God and our brothers and sisters.
"Like every year, this evening I shall begin the spiritual exercises with my Curia aides. In silence, gathering my thoughts, I shall pray to the Lord that the needs of the Church and of the world be fulfilled. I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, to accompany us with your prayers.
"May the Most Holy Mary, whose heart and mind were every day turned towards the mystery of Her son, guide us in having a fruitful Lenten journey."
After the Angelus Archbishop Sandri, on behalf of the Pope, added:
"As I continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, I beseech those who hold Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena and all kidnap victims in Iraq to release them".
