Rome ? A top Vatican cardinal stood in for Pope John Paul II during the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday, sparing the ailing pontiff from a lengthy ceremony and allowing him to rest for today, when he was expected to bless the faithful.

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a close papal aide, celebrated the three-hour long meditation in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Mass went late into the night as the faithful prepared to celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter, the most joyous event of the church calendar.

In a message read by Ratzinger at the start of the service, John Paul assured the crowd he was watching the Mass on television in his Vatican apartment.

As expected, John Paul did not appear via video link to the faithful as he did on Friday night, during the Way of the Cross procession at Rome’s torch-lit Colosseum.

By Saturday evening, a long line of the faithful had gathered outside the basilica for the vigil Mass.

For the first time in his 26-year pontificate, John Paul has been physically absent from this year’s Holy Week events, weakened by Parkinson’s disease and Feb. 24 surgery to insert a breathing tube in his throat.

The pontiff traditionally has used the Easter Sunday message to reflect on war, poverty and terrorism. He also has delivered an annual Easter greeting in some 60 languages to the delight of the thousands of tourists and faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican said John Paul was expected only to give a blessing this year. It was unclear if he would utter any words or just silently bless the crowd as he did on Palm Sunday.

On Saturday, the Vatican was jolted by a man who climbed over a security railing atop the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and remained for about three hours before being overpowered by firefighters and brought to safety. The man was believed to have a history of psychiatric problems.

The incident did not appear to have any impact on the Vigil Mass or on preparations for Easter Sunday.