One of the Pope's closest advisors has called on the faithful to pray for the pontiff's health.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger told the German magazine Buntethat Pope John Paul II is "in a bad way, we should pray for the Pope," he said an interview on September 22nd.
The pontiff, is 83 years-old and is the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease.
Cardinal Ratzinger's comments will add to rumours that the pope's frail health may be worse than publicly announced by the Vatican.
Asked whether Ratzinger's description indicated any change in the pope's condition, the Vatican press office noted that John Paul would resume the general audience tomorrow.
The Pope will also canonise three men at Sunday Mass on the steps of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican announced.
Canonisation ceremonies generally last about two hours, an indication the Pope's doctors think he has the stamina for the appearance.
Asked whether the pope is taking on too much given his state of health, Cardinal Ratzinger said: "that is very probably the case."
AP