Pope John Paul has made his first public appearance since he was admitted to hospital three days ago for a throat operation.
The Pope waved twice from the 10th floor window of the Gemelli Hospital in Rome before aides wheeled his chair away. He appeared for about two minutes.
In St Peter's Square, pilgrims who had gathered for the Angelus were read a message from the 84-year-old Pontiff in which he asked them to pray for him.
The Pope is recovering from a tracheotomy operation last Thursday.
A medical expert has said the Pope's stay in hospital will not be brief. Giancarlo Cianfrone, a medical professor at Rome University, estimated that it might be a month before the Pope can speak again.
The Vatican has said it will issue another statement on the Pope's health tomorrow.
