And in His 82nd Year, John Paul II Rested

As he cuts back on his papal duties, the Pontiff's frailty stirs talk of retirement

An actor and playwright in his youth, Pope John Paul II knows that the simplest gesture can move an audience. From a bold wave to his countrymen in communist Poland in 1979 to his quietly slipping a note in Jerusalem's Wailing Wall two decades later, this Pope has always found ways to keep the world watching. But last week it was John Paul, 81, who had to do the watching. Struggling with an arthritic right knee and symptoms of Parkinson's disease, the Pope for the first time in his pontificate stepped aside and let others lead several of the most important...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!