VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II's absence was keenly felt by worried followers as poor health forced him to miss major Holy Week events, and Good Friday dawned with the pontiff's suffering providing special significance even to the events where he did not participate.

Relinquishing a cherished Good Friday practice, John Paul didn't hear the confessions of faithful in St. Peter's Basilica in the morning.

On Holy Thursday, the pope was in his apartment and watched services in St. Peter's Basilica on television as a cardinal read a message to the faithful on his behalf in an early evening service recalling the Last Supper of Christ.

"With mind and heart I am close to you," the pontiff said in the Holy Thursday message.

Recent medical crises that led to a breathing tube being surgically inserted into his throat a month ago have taken their toll of the 84-year-old pope, already worn down by years of battling Parkinson's disease.

U.S. Cardinal James Stafford had been designated to stand in for John Paul at an afternoon meditation service in the basilica. The homily was to be delivered by the preacher for the papal household, the Rev. Raniero Cantalamessa.

John Paul might resort to a video connection to participate in the Way of the Cross procession in the evening at the Colosseum.

Vatican TV installed equipment and was ready to broadcast any video appearance by the pope. But the decision on whether John Paul will appear on the screen was expected to be made at the last minute, depending on his physical condition.

TV networks in 39 countries were linked for the ceremony.

Holy Week services had taken on a special significance because of the pontiff's suffering, a top Vatican official, U.S. Archbishop John Foley said.

"It's very obvious that the pope is carrying a very heavy cross indeed, and he is giving a marvelous example of patience in the face of suffering, and of long suffering which in itself is a virtue," Foley said on Vatican Radio today.

"So there's added significance in which the Holy Father is associated with Jesus in the carrying of the cross," said Foley, who heads the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

On Thursday, the faithful in the basilica broke into applause when the pope's message being read aloud concluded this way: "Spiritually present, I pray with you, while with affection I bless all of you."

Although the Vatican has taken pains to describe the ailing pontiff as solidly at the helm of the church, his failure for the first time in his 26-year papacy to preside at these important Holy Week events was a reminder to the world's 1.1 billion Catholics of the limits posed by his physical problems.

Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday, when the pope is expected to bless the crowds. The Vatican said today that TV networks in 74 countries will be linked by satellite for the ceremony.