Rome ? A gaunt-looking Pope John Paul II appeared in a live video Thursday evening to hundreds of young people who filled a Rome basilica to show their support and express hope that the ailing pontiff will travel to a World Youth Day event this summer in Germany.

In a brief appearance that lasted less than a minute, the 84-year-old pope made the sign of the cross to the crowd, which erupted into cheering. At one point, John Paul covered his eyes with a hand, and the live video signal cut out.

The pope, dressed in white vestments, did not speak during the video.

The use of video has become more important to John Paul’s papacy as the pope battles with his ailments and the Vatican seeks to reassure the world’s more than 1 billion Roman Catholic faithful that he is alert and in command of the church.

John Paul is convalescing at the Vatican following his release Sunday from Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic hospital.