VATICAN CITY, Oct 15: Priests and presidents, pilgrims and politicians arrived in Rome from around the world on Wednesday to fete an ailing Pope John Paul as he prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of his historic pontificate.

The 83-year-old pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and can no longer walk, appeared markedly better at his general audience in St Peter’s Square, one day before the anniversary.

He spoke in a voice that was much clearer than it has been recently and clearly recognised cardinals who greeted him at the end of the audience for thousands of people.

“I would like to express my gratitude for the good wishes and prayers that people have made for the 25th anniversary of my pontificate,” he said in Italian.

He invited everyone to join him in St Peter’s Square on Thursday evening for a mass at about the same time as he first appeared to the world as pope on Oct 16, 1978, minutes after he was elected the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years.

Among the cardinals was Bernard Law, the former archbishop of Boston who resigned after a child sex scandal that began in his diocese and swept across the United States last year.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and former Polish President Lech Walesa were both coming to Rome.

Nuns, children, workers and even U.S. astronauts are also descending on the Vatican for the occasion.

“It is very exciting, almost as exciting as being in space, maybe more exciting,” said Mike Massimino, who took part in a 2002 mission aboard the space shuttle Columbia.

CARDINALS CONVENTION: On Wednesday evening cardinals opened a four-day convention on the papacy.