Pope's health improving

The Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls released the following statement yesterday about the Holy Father's health: He said: "the Holy Father rested well last night, and laboratory results are satisfactory. It will be the doctors who decide how long the Pope will remain at Gemelli. Navarro-Valls, also a doctor, added that, "from my experience, I think his stay could be about seven days." Prayers, and wishes for a speedy and complete recovery have arrived from around the world for John Paul II, who was hospitalized in Rome on Monday evening with respiratory problems. More than 700 Polish pilgrims who expected to attend yesterday's weekly general audience offered two bouquets of red and white roses, the colours of the Polish flag, to the Pope. A priest and a nun from the Pope's native land delivered them. Those pilgrims gathered in prayer in St Peter's Square, whereas a number of Poles residing in Rome have decided to undertake a pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo to the shrine of St Padre Pio. Prayer vigils were held in a number of Roman churches, including the Polish church of St. Stanislaw. Fifteen red roses were also brought to the hospital for the Pope by a delegation of residents of towns that have been built on land, now part of Poland, near the Auschwitz concentration camp. Source VIS