- Title: POLAND: POLES IN KRAKOW PRAY FOR AILING POPE
- Date: 27th February 2005
- Summary: (W3) KRAKOW, POLAND (FEBRUARY 27, 2005) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. SCU PRIEST DURING MASS ASKING PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR THE POPE AND HIS RECOVERY 0.24 2. PAN TO PEOPLE PRAYING 0.28 3. CLOSE OF PEOPLE PRAYING 0.34 4. WIDE OF PRIEST DURING SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST/ HOLDING UP BREAD 0.40 5. WIDE OF MORE PEOPLE PRAYING 0.46 6. SCU WOMAN PRAYING 0.50 7. SLV WOMEN PRAYING 0.56 8. WIDE / PAN OF ANOTHER CHURCH (KRAKOW BASILICA) 1.07 9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PRAYING DURING SERVICE HELD FOR THE POPE 1.11 10. WIDE OF PRIEST DURING SERVICE 1.17 11. WIDE OF CHURCH AND CONGREGATION 1.22 12. VARIOUS OF SERVICE 1.34 13. WIDE OF EXTERIORS OF CHURCH, PEOPLE LEAVING AFTER SERVICE 1.39 14. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (POLISH) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN SAYING: "The Pope needs rest now, he needs to recover from his illness, the fact that he was not present physically (at the Angelus) doesn't matter at all, he is always with us spiritually. We prayed for him in the basilica." 1.51 15. PAN FROM SPIRE OF BASILICA TO PEOPLE LEAVING CHURCH 1.57 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th March 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KRAKOW, POLAND
- Country: Poland
- Reuters ID: LVA1X891BOJD36G5XFIRXPCRJ33O
- Story Text: Poland's Catholics pray for ailing favourite son.
Millions of Roman Catholic Poles prayed for the
swift recovery of their ailing leader, Pope John Paul on
Sunday (February 27).
A special mass was held at the Pope's parish church in
Krakow.
The 84-year-old Pope, born Karol Wojtyla, was rushed to
hospital for the second time this month on Thursday and has
had surgery to ease breathing problems, signalling that one
of history's most active papacies could be about to end.
Since his election in 1978, he has inspired Poles'
successful fight against communism and served as a moral
beacon through the tough transition to a market economy
since.
More than half of Poland's 37 million Catholics go to
church every Sunday -- second in Europe only to Ireland
and almost 70 percent say the Pope's teachings have a
direct effect on their daily lives.
For the first time in his 26-year papacy, Poles
returned from church on Sunday to hear the lunchtime
Angelus prayer -- broadcast live to millions of homes
without the Pope's voice.
But many said it is Pope's spiritual presence that
matters the most.
"The Pope needs rest now, he needs to recover from his
illness, the fact that he was not present physically (at
the Angelus) doesn't matter at all, he is always with us
spiritually. We prayed for him in the basilica."
Many took heart from his brief surprise appearance in
the window of his 10th floor hospital room after the
Angelus, blessing the faithful gathered below.
"He is continuing his mission in his illness, saying on
behalf of all those in a similar situation: 'I am old and
sick but I am here, accept me'," leading Catholic
journalist Maciej Letowski said.
Polish television broke into regular programmes with
news of the Pope's relapse on Thursday and have maintained
a barrage of coverage since, flashing from correspondents
in Rome to Polish throat specialists, politicians and
churchmen.
Specially created Internet chat sites have been flooded
with messages of support, while high school students from
his home town of Wadowice signed a letter promising to pray
for the Pope's health.
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