Pope John Paul II observes three-minute silence during his weekly Wednesday general audience at the Vatican. Pope John Paul II observes three-minute silence during his weekly Wednesday general audience at the Vatican January 5, 2005. The Pope joined Europe's day of mourning for the victims of the Asian tsunami on Wednesday with a three-minute silence and prayers for the millions of people struggling to survive after the disaster. PP03090123 ILLUSTRATION REUTERS/Tony Gentile