And The Answer Is …

Keenly aware he often is described as ailing and frail, Pope John Paul II joked on Sunday about his age, twirling his cane and asking youngsters to guess how old he is. “How old will the pope be in the year 2000?” the pontiff, who will leave later this week on a trip to Mexico and the United States, asked children at San Liborio parish church on the outskirts of Rome. Guesses ranged from only 10 to 100. When “80” began to prevail as a shout, the pope said, “Yes, that’s right. Thanks to God.”