ROME, Feb 27: Pope John Paul II made a surprise appearance at his hospital window on Sunday, his first since undergoing surgery on his throat last week. The 84-year-old pontiff waved to the applauding crowd outside the hospital, made the sign of the cross and touched his throat briefly as he lingered at the closed window for a couple of minutes.

The pope appeared alert and in relatively good form. Standing to his right and slightly behind him, the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, smiled broadly through the glass. In the background, an official Vatican photographer could be seen taking pictures.

The Vatican had announced on Saturday that the pope would not make an appearance of any kind, and would follow the Sunday prayer symbolically from his hospital room. -AFP