Pope to stay "as long as God wants"

An emotional Pope John Paul said yesterday he intended to stay on as head of the Roman Catholic church "as long as God wants" and said he and Church leaders should proclaim their faith to their "dying breath."

The pope made his comments to cardinals and bishops from around the world at the close of a four-day seminar on his pontificate, which marked its 25th anniversary on Thursday.

As has become custom, a senior aide read most of his address to the group, gathered in the Vatican's audience hall. The pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has asked aides to help him read his speeches in order to conserve his strength.

A swift deterioration in his visible condition has again fuelled speculation that he might choose to resign instead of ruling for life as most of his predecessors have done.

The last pope to resign willingly was Celestine V, who stepped down in 1294. Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 when there was more than one pope reigning at the same time.

Yesterday's comment was similar to one the pope made on Thursday, the day of the anniversary, when he said God wanted him to continue leading the Catholic Church despite his frailty.

The pontiff, who appeared in relatively good form but with moist eyes that betrayed his emotion, also urged the prelates to lead simple lives.

He said Mother Teresa of Calcutta, whom he will put closer to sainthood today, was "an emblematic example" of how the Church should be. As the pope spoke, preparations were starting in St Peter's Square for today's beatification of India's revered "Saint of the Gutters".

The anniversary festivities reach their climax on Tuesday when the pope elevates 31 prelates to the College of Cardinals - the elite group that will choose his successor after he dies.

The pope and the prelates then retired for a sumptuous lunch with a menu that included shrimp mousse, duck a l'orange with porcini mushrooms and white truffles.

In the Vatican press room, a nationalistic cry of horror went up among Italian journalists when a spokesman announced that the wine at the lunch was from Croatia.