People are surprised but cheered at news the Pope
has started speaking again after his recent throat surgery.


The startling announcement that Pope John Paul had
started speaking again was made by Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger to reporters in the lobby of Rome's Gemelli
Hospital on Tuesday (March 1) minutes after seeing the Pope.

The 84-year-old Pope, who suffers from Parkinson's
Disease and severe arthritis, had a tracheotomy operation
last Thursday (February 24) to help ease breathing
problems.

It involved cutting a small hole in his windpipe and
inserting a tube to allow air to flow freely into his lungs.

Ratzin
ger, one of a handful of people allowed to see
the Pope since the operation, effectively dismantled
speculation that the leader of the worlds 1.1 billion Roman
Catholics would not be able to carry out his duties while
sick.

Ratzinger instead painted the picture of a Pope in
charge, reading documents and making decisions despite his
illness.

"The Holy Father spoke to me in German and Italian,"
said Ratzinger, who as guardian of the Roman Catholic
doctrine, is one of the top Vatican officials.

"He was very alert. He will be working on some of the
documentation that I brought to him. I am very happy to see
the Pope was very alert."
The 77-year-old German cardinal and other Vatican
officials said the Pope was strong enough to attend a Mass
in his hospital suite on Tuesday morning and was continuing
speech and breathing rehabilitation therapy.

News of the Pope's progress was welcomed by Italians at
the hospital.

"He is such a strong man, his voice is not a problem
for him I think he will make an escape back to the Vatican
to pray for us," said Sonia Fumetti looking up at the
Pope's window at
the hospital.

"The Pope is guided by the Holy Spirit of humanity - he
will live a long life and this gives me optimism," said one
of the hospital nurses after hearing the news.

Many Vatican watchers were surprised that the pontiff
was already speaking.

"This is amazing," said Reuters Vatican correspondent
Philip Pullella.

"When people have come to talk to doctors at the
hospital they have expressed concern that the recovery was
going slowly, that the Pope may not even speak again that
he would have to wait weeks or months before speaking - so
this was really, really a big surprise," Pullella said.

Other visitors at the Gemelli on Thursday included a
group of Polish pilgrims from the town of Olsztyn. They
prayed and sang under the Pope's window, and expressed hope
he will get
better soon.

"We are happy we can stay here and be near him," said
one young pilgrim.

The Pope was rushed to hospital last Thursday for the
second time this month with breathing difficulties. Doctors
performed a tracheotomy to make it easier for him to
breathe.

The Vatican has not said when the Pope might leave
hospital, raising the possibility that for the first time
in his papacy he might miss or curtail Easter services
later this month.

For the first time in his 26-year Pontificate, the Pope
failed on Sunday to deliver the weekly Angelus prayer, but
he did make a surprise appearance at his hospital window,
waving weakly and making a sign of the cross.

Medical experts have said the Pope's rehabilitation
could take weeks, raising the possibility that for the
first time in his papacy he might miss Easter services at
the end of the month.