VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II, appearing in improved health as he nears his 83rd birthday, will pay a two-day visit to Madrid this weekend -- his fifth visit to Spain and his 99th trip outside Italy in his almost 25 years as Roman Catholic pontiff.
The schedule for the pope's visit is light, and he will leave the residence of the papal envoy to Spain only twice. The major events scheduled are an address to an expected 300,000 young people at the Cuatro Vientos Air Base on the outskirts of Madrid early tonight and his proclamation of five new saints Sunday morning at an outdoor Mass in the center of Madrid.
