VATICAN CITY, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The Roman Catholic Church's 84-year-old leader, who underwent an emergency tracheotomy Thursday, has been breathing on his own and eating solid food.
However, Pope John Paul II will follow -- not personally give -- Sunday's traditional Angelus blessing, Vatican officials said Saturday.
An archbishop will read the message and prayer in St. Peter's Square as the pontiff follows it from his bed at Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital, CNN said.
Although the pope has been recovering well, he has been told by his doctors not to speak for several days.
Medical experts say the pope's condition remains extremely serious, as he suffers from acute arthritis and Parkinson's disease. He was rushed to Rome's Gemelli Hospital with a fever and breathing difficulties Thursday, the second such hospitalization of the pontiff this month.
Medical doctors say the tracheotomy poses an increased risk of infections, such as pneumonia. said Dr. Navarro-Valls, a Vatican spokesman. However, he said the pope did not have any infection in his lungs.
The Vatican said its next news conference will be held Monday.
