At his summer retreat, he 82-year-old pontiff sent out a greeting to those on vacation, but said he would not forget others who will not get a break this season, including the ill, the imprisoned and the lonely.
"I express my great appreciation for those who, with authentic human and Christian spirit, dedicate themselves voluntarily to supporting the needy, the sick and whoever find themselves in difficulty," he said.
John Paul arrived at his palace in this lakeside town outside Rome a week ago, deciding that for the first time he would hold his Wednesday general audience here to spare himself the commute to Vatican City.
The rest seemed to be serving him well, with the pontiff appearing more lively and strong than usual. Rather than simply facing the faithful from his window, the pontiff made his way - with help from aides - down to the Castel Gandolfo courtyard to address the crowd.
The pope suffers from the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, including hand tremors, difficulty in walking and slurred speech. Despite his weak health, he is soon scheduled to make another of the international trips that have marked his papacy, this time heading to Canada, Guatemala and Mexico from July 23 to Aug. 2.
© 2001 miami and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.