Pope Benedict moves into papal apartments

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict is moving into the papal apartment where John Paul died and was expected to deliver the weekly blessing from there for the first time on Sunday, Vatican sources said.

The bedroom and bathroom have both been repainted and special medical facilities installed for the ailing John Paul have been removed from one of the rooms in the suite.

Benedict also has access to another papal apartment in the Vatican's St. John's Tower which is used by popes when maintenance work is being done in the Apostolic Palace.

The papal apartments were sealed for a number of days after the death of John Paul on April 2, in keeping with Vatican tradition.

The apartments are familiar to the world because it is from one of their windows that the pope delivers his Sunday noon blessing to crowds in St Peter's Square.

- REUTERS