VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II will remain hospitalized a few more days as a precaution, the Vatican said today, a day after the 84-year-old pope appeared at his clinic window to show the world he was recovering from his latest health crisis.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope, who he said was continuing to improve, had no fever, was eating regularly and has been sitting in a chair every day for several hours. Officials said the frail pope's sixth night at the clinic passed calmly.

The pope has been reading the newspapers, and Navarro-Valls quoted John Paul as saying he was doing so "just to follow in the papers the evolution of my health."

John Paul's 10-minute appearance at an open window Sunday gave the public its first glimpse of the pontiff since his hospitalization nearly a week ago for breathing problems and the flu.

The Vatican said the next medical bulletin would be issued at noon Thursday.

On Sunday, the pope looked rested and alert, and although he spoke with difficulty, a message read for him by an Argentine archbishop standing beside him seemed to respond to any doubts about the pope's readiness to continue leading the Roman Catholic Church.

"... In this hospital, in the middle of other sick people to whom my affectionate thoughts go out, I can continue to serve the church and the whole of humanity," the message said.

As well-wishers, many with tears in their eyes, gazed up at his 10th-floor window, John Paul gave his usual brief blessing. But his words, in a gravelly voice, were barely understandable.

An Italian prisoner with a police escort visited the hospital today and left John Paul with two gifts made by fellow inmates: a harp crafted out of matchsticks and a wooden shoe.

Dr. Corrado Manni, John Paul's anesthesiologist, told the newspaper La Repubblica that "even if, as is certain, the Holy Father overcomes this crisis, in the future there could be similar relapses."

The latest illness led him to cancel his first audiences in 16 months, and the list of missed appearances is growing.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Holy See's No. 2 official, will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Tuesday, and American Cardinal James Stafford will lead an Ash Wednesday prayer service in the pope's place.