POLAND: POPE CANCELS TRIP TO KRAKOW - UPDATE
(15 Jun 1999) Eng/Polish/Nat Pope John Paul II has cancelled his appearances in Krakow, Poland, for Tuesday. The Pontiff is reportedly suffering from a bout of the flu. Thousands of worshippers waited in the rain for Tuesday's open air mass in Krakow, only to be informed that the Pope was ill -- they had to make do with a stand-in -- Cardinal Matharski. Thousands of worshippers braved the rain on Tuesday to attend an open air mass which was to be celebrated by Pope John Paul II, in Krakow, his home diocese. Shortly before the celebration was to begin, an official statement was given informing the media of an illness and the cancellation of Tuesday's arrangements. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The Holy Father has cancelled his whole day today as a result of fever. For this reason he has been advised to cancel all of his appointments for Tuesday the 15th. The Holy Father will stay the whole day at his residence at the Bishops House. I was asked the question, How high was his temperature ? It was always below 38 degrees Celsius. Then they asked me also what kind of therapy is he following ? And I said he is following anti-influenza therapy." SUPER CAPTION: Joaquin Navarro-Valls, Papal Spokesman Parishioners listened in disbelief. SOUNDBITE: (Polish) "It is a great misfortune that this has happened. We are praying for him." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop At the Pope's residence in Krakow there was no sign of the Pontiff. A window where he had been appearing was empty. The mass went ahead never-the-less. Cardinal Matharski, Archbishop of Krakow, came forward as a stand-in. At Monday's mass in Sosnowiec, John Paul II was looking decidedly weary, needing his staff to support himself infront of thousands of worshippers. Tuesday's cancellations come just days after the Pontiff required stitches to a head wound suffered after a fall. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
