by Denis Barnett
VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II will remain in hospital "for a few more days," though he will be back at the Vatican by March 20, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said Thursday.
"On the advice of his doctors, the Holy Father will prolong his stay in hospital for a few more days," the spokesman told journalists at the Vatican.
Navarro-Valls, giving his fourth bulletin on the pope's condition since his hospitalisation two weeks ago, once again gave no precise date for his discharge from Rome's Gemelli polyclinic.
However, he confirmed that the 84-year-old pontiff would be out of hospital before Easter Holy Week ceremonies, which this year begin on March 20 with Palm Sunday.
"He will spend Holy Week at the Vatican," the spokesman said. "That doesn't mean he'll return at the beginning of Holy Week. He could well be back before that."
In the meantime, the pope needed to remain in hospital "in order to complete his convalescence, which is progressing regularly," he said.
"I do not expect to issue another communique before Monday, March 14," he said.
Before that, he said the pope will make another appearance at his hospital window for the traditional Sunday Angelus, which according to the Vatican, will take the same form as last Sunday's appearance.
Images of the pope waving and blessing the faithful from his window were beamed to four giant screens at St Peter's Square after an aide had presided over the traditional Sunday gathering.
However, questions surrounding John Paul II's participation at the demanding Holy Week ceremonies, his first major test since his recent health problems, remain unanswered for now.
"The calendar of events for Holy Week remains at it was. The pope's participation at each ceremony will be decided when he returns to the Vatican," said Navarro-Valls.
The pope, who has Parkinson's disease, has not spoken in public since undergoing tracheotomy surgery within hours of being rushed to hospital on February 24.
The Vatican spokesman, who said earlier this week the pope had been advised to limit the use of his voice to aid his recovery, said he did not know if John Paul II would speak next Sunday.
"Sometimes I'm the first to be surprised, like yesterday when I left the hospital I was asked if he would appear at his window. I said no because nothing was scheduled. Then, after the Holy Father celebrated mass he appeared at the window. That was why he was wearing his purple vestments."
Three previous medical bulletins issued during the pope's two-week hospitalisation said the pope was recovering well after the surgery to ease acute breathing problems.
Navarro-Valls said the pope "continues to receive his collaborators, and is following the activities of the Vatican. He wants to return to the Vatican as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, the pontiff will continue to breathe through a tube inserted into his throat during his tracheotomy.
"The tube will stay in place. The doctors will decide when to remove it," he said.
The Vatican has previously said the pope is undergoing daily therapy for his breathing and voice.
On his treatment, Navarro-Valls said "it's evolving regularly, there is nothing new. The pope wants to go back as soon as possible, but he accepts and welcomes the advice given by his doctors."
03/10/2005 12:51 GMT