VATICAN (voa) – In Vatican City, arthritic knees forced Pope John Paul II to curtail his participation in today’s Palm Sunday religious services, for the first time in his 23-year papacy.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week for Christians, the most important period of the liturgical year, leading to Easter next Sunday.
The pontiff, 81, read today’s opening prayers at St. Peter’s Basilica from an armchair, standing only for a few minutes during the lengthy service. If the pope had presided at the Mass himself, he would have had to spend more than two hours on his feet.
An Italian cardinal, Camillo Runi, celebrated the Mass in the pope’s place. The Vatican says doctors have ordered the pope to limit his movements to recuperate from severe knee pain caused by a form of arthritis.
The pope’s medical advisers also have urged him to reduce his busy schedule and spend more time resting. The Catholic church leader suffers from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including a hand tremor and slurred speech.
Palm Sunday’s liturgy, with an especially long gospel and chanted prayers, makes for one of the longest services in the church calendar.
Palm Sunday commemorates the day Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem the week before he died.
