“The Great Communicator” remained silent

VATICAN CITY- Pope John Paul misses the Palm Sunday Services for First Time.

Palm Sunday is the day Christians commemorate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is also the start of Holy Week, which culminates with Easter Sunday, the day Christians believe Jesus was resurrected three days after his crucifixion.

While other popes stayed close to Rome, remote and seemingly unapproachable, John Paul’s wide-ranging appearances, enhanced by an actor’s sense of theater, has became worldwide news events.

But For the first time pope did not officiate the Holy Week service.

He blessed a crowd of 50,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the sign of the cross but did not speak. The man once known as “The Great Communicator” remained silent. Looking uncomfortable, he banged a glass lectern with his fist in what appeared to be a sign of frustration and was wheeled away. The brief, poignant appearance brought tears to the eyes of some people in the crowd.

The 84-year-old pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, is recovering from a tracheotomy that was preformed after he experienced difficulty breathing.
The pope’s doctors have advised him to avoid contact with crowds, because he has a high risk of infection.