Pope John Paul II made a surprise appearance at his hospital window 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 blinds on the 10th-floor window of the Gemelli hospital were drawn aside with theatrical timing moments after a senior Vatican prelate had performed the traditional Sunday Angelus blessing in the name of the absent pope in St Peter's Square a few miles away.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005