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Narration 1:
Jose Rodriguez is on vacation visiting New York from Mexico, but he woke up at dawn this morning - to give thanks.
SOUND: in church: prayers
AX1: (Rod-REE-gez): emotional: I had the idea to come to Mass during the time I'm visiting New York because I think it's important for me to say thank you for all the things that I've been receiving from the Lord and from my friends and my family.
Narration 2:
And like thousands in cities across his native Mexico and at the Basilica of Guadeloupe shrine in Mexico City, Rodriguez says the Pope is in his prayers.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II chose Mexico for the first foreign trip of his papacy. An estimated 20 million people caught a glimpse of him wearing a sombrero and accompanying mariachis on a guitar.
That was then.
Parkinson's Disease has severely impaired the Pope's muscle coordination. But Rodriguez says it hasn't affected his inner strength.
AX2: (Rod-REE-gez): emotional: He's a very old man, and always life is kind of a fighting against death. He's a very strong man. He has a very strong will to keep with us. It's hard to see and it's a kind of example for everybody.
Narration 3:
Anne Wynter of Los Angeles prayed this morning for the Pope to survive his latest brush with illness.
AX3: WYNTER: I heard that everything is going well for him. He had a successful surgery so that's great news and that's a blessing.
Narration 4:
Although the tracheotomy was successful, his latest visit to the hospital has revived the debate over whether he should retire.
The last time a Pope resigned willingly was in 1294 when Celestine V abdicated the papacy.
Bill Ward of New Jersey attended this morning's Mass. He believes the Pope's professional fate is in God's hands.
AX4: I think that that's up to the Holy Spirit. He knows what he's doing. I think the Pope knows what he's doing. And I think he's made whatever provisions would have to be made in the event that he's not capable of responding to communication. So, I think it's going to be alright. I'm not worried about it.
Narration 5:
The Pope's doctors have ordered the pontiff not to speak for a few days. There's no word yet when he might be released.
Outro:
Vatican officials have said that his well-wishers should get used to the fact that he may have to visit the hospital from time to time.
Valencia Grant, Columbia Radio News.