Pope Delegates Most Easter Duties to Aides

Pope John Paul II, who is in a Rome hospital recovering after a tracheostomy, has for the first time asked senior cardinals to preside at nearly all Easter season ceremonies.

A program issued by the Vatican showed that the 84-year-old pope was scheduled only to deliver his traditional blessing on Easter.

It did not say where he would be when he gave it.

Cardinals will preside over the Easter Mass itself.