AILING POPE WILL SKIP THE U.S.
History's most traveled Pope canceled his plans to visit the Big Apple next month, and it wasn't because of the crime rate. A Vatican spokesman explained that the Pontiff hasn't completely recovered from hip-replacement surgery completed this past summer. The announcement immediately set off a fire storm of rumors in the Vatican that the 74-year-old Pope is seriously sick and possibly on the verge of dying, says TIME Rome Reporter Greg Burke. The stories were fueled by the Pope's appearance during his visit to Zagreb 10 days ago. "He looked terrible," says Burke. "He seemed feeble and tired." The Vatican flatly denies the rumors. The Pope's trip to Manila next year is still on, according to a spokesman.
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