Pope John Paul II, who appeared to have recovered from the flu, has suffered another breathing crisis on Thursday morning. In order to ease his breathing problem, he underwent minor surgery known as tracheotomy, in which a small opening was cut into the neck and the windpipe so that air could flow directly into the lungs.

Even though the treatment has been declared successful, Christians have been greatly concerned by the worsening physical condition of the 84-year-old pontiff. Roman Catholics across the world, in big cities and quiet villages everywhere, have devoted themselves in prayers for the Pope.

In Wadowice, the small town in southern Poland where the Pope was born, people offered special prayers in an afternoon service.

"We have prayed for the pope to live as long as possible so we can still share our joy with him," a 73-year-old retiree said as she left the service. "We are praying for him every day, for his well-being. But it's all in God's hands now."

In Philippines, a dominantly Catholic country, church officials flashed a prayer request to the congregations by text message on their cell phones.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Holy See's No. 2 official expressed hope for the Pope to continue his position while rumours continued saying that the Pope may decide to step down.

"I do draw inspiration from his own fight for life," a Catholic from Dublin, Ireland said. "He is suffering, but he's surviving, and more power to him. I get angry when people say he should quit. He should keep going for every minute God gives him."

The latest report from the Vatican on Friday casts the Pope’s condition in a positive light. Except from restricting his speach as advised by doctors, the Pope is breathing on his own without mechanical assistance and has been reported to have had a good appetite.