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CNN Sunday Morning

Pope Performs Holy Week Duties Despite Frailties

Aired April 15, 2001 - 10:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: At the Vatican Pope John Paul II appeared frail, but gave Easter wishes for peace in 61 languages, as is his tradition. More than 100,000 people attended mass in St. Peter's Square.

CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci was there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): Pope John II celebrated the first Easter mass of the new millennium in front of tens of thousands of worshipers. Walking slowly from St. Peter's Basilica to the altar, the pope briefly stumbled. It has been a grueling holy week for the 80-year-old pontiff, his fatigue visible on his face, his voice, at times, trembling even as he managed to ding.

Despite his frail health, and against the advice of his medical staff, the pontiff still managed to preside over all major events this week, celebrating mass, confessing a handful of worshipers, baptizing newborns and even walking a small portion of the way of the cross on Good Friday.

After celebrating the mass, during which the pope again called for world peace, he delivered his Easter greeting in more than 50 languages. Traditionally, he does it from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica but since Christmas 1999, the pope has not appeared from that balcony, having difficulty climbing the stairs to reach it.

But worshipers in St. Peter's Square have welcomed the pope's efforts to be among them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This has been an exceptional Easter because the pope, who is not in great health, has kept up with all of his commitments. He has set a good example for the church and the faithful.

VINCI: For the first Polish pope ever, Easter has a deep, special meaning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This pope has always had a very strong feeling towards the Eastern Christianity and the Eastern churches. I think that he feels Easter much more than could a Western priest do (sic) because the Eastern churches really put a great importance, a great weight on Easter. VINCI: Thanks to a calendar's coincidence, this year Easter is celebrated on the same day by both the Catholic and the Orthodox churches, another significant event for a pope who has worked very hard to bring closer together all Christian churches.

(on camera): The pope is turning 81 next month, but throughout this holy week he has shown his iron will to go on, sometimes beyond his physical abilities. Each step, each word are, for him, a real effort. But that is how, he says, a committed pope should be.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Vatican City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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