Muslim worshipers in Rome prayed for ailing Pope Paul. (Reuters)

Additional Reporting by Ahmed Al-Matboli, IOL Correspondent

ROME , February 26, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Muslims in Italy are wishing ailing Pope John II of the Vatican a speedy recovery, with many imams using the Friday’s sermons to pray for the 84-year-old pontiff.

“We pray to God for the Pope to recover soon to continue his message of peace at the political, social and culture spheres,” Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper quoted a Rome mosque imam as saying.

“We hold the Pope in high esteem in his capacity as the head of the highest religious authority in Italy and for his painstaking efforts for the common good,” added the imam.

Ammar Abdullah, an imam of a Naples mosque, echoed similar sentiments, saying he dedicated his Friday’s supplication to the Pope.

“He certainly deserves to be loved by all people,” Abdullah told the Italian paper.

Muslim worshipers on Friday also hoped to see the pontiff once again leading Sunday’s prayers as usual.

“I pray from the bottom of my heart that the Pope will recover soon. He speaks good about Muslims and all people,” a Muslim worshiper, who identified himself as Ashri, told the Italian daily.

The pontiff began his third day in Rome 's Gemelli Hospital on Saturday, February 26, amid uncertainty as to how quickly he could recover.

He has been in hospital since Thursday, February 24, when he underwent a tracheotomy operation on his throat to help him breathe.

The Italian news agency Ansa said the Pope was on strong antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

Sunday’s Prayers

The pontiff will “join” Angelus prayers from his hospital room. (Reuters)

A Vatican statement said Saturday that the Pope, the leader of one billion Roman Catholics, would “join” the Angelus prayers from his hospital room, Reuters news agency reported.

The statement said Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, the Vatican 's deputy Secretary of State, would preside for the Pope and deliver a blessing from the steps of St Peter's Basilica on his behalf.

It indicated that the pontiff would not appear at his window for the blessing, as he did when he was in hospital earlier this month.

It was not clear if there would be a video or audio link between the St. Peter Square and the hospital.

Pope Paul has been advised by doctors not to speak for at least several days following the surgery.

News of his relapse brought reporters and camera crews swarming back to the Gemelli, in a repeat of the scenes that accompanied the Pope's previous hospitalization earlier this month.

Well-wishers, passers-by and even patients who left their hospital beds tried to glimpse activity on the 10th floor, where the pontiff has a permanent suite.

Pope Paul has reigned for 26 years and is for many younger Catholics the only pontiff they have ever known.

The pontiff’s very public battles against Parkinson's disease, his failing health and his position on many thorny issues, including opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq, have won him a special place in the hearts of many people.