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Strange Famous · 04-02-2005, 12:34 PM

officially so, it seems:

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul II, the Pole who headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and played a key role in the fall of communism in Europe, has died, the Vatican has announced. He was 84.

The news was immediately announced to around 60,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square on Saturday evening and was met with a long applause, an Italian sign of respect. Bells tolled and many people wept openly.

Click to enlarge photo

"Our Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father," Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told the crowds.

A Vatican statement said the Pontiff died at 9.37 p.m (8.37 p.m. British time) in his private apartment.

Apart from his battle against communism, John Paul will be also be remembered for his unyielding defence of traditional Vatican doctrines as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics.

After the Pope's health became critical on Thursday, crowds had staged a vigil in St. Peter's Square, praying for a man already being dubbed by some Catholics as "John Paul the Great".

The Pontiff's health had deteriorated steadily over the past decade and earlier this year took a sharp turn for the worse.

Once a lithe athlete and powerful speaker, he was already racked by arthritis and Parkinson's Disease, his voice often reduced to a raspy whisper.

He was rushed to hospital twice in February and had to have a tracheotomy to ease serious breathing problems. But he never regained his strength from the operation and failed dramatically on two occasions to address crowds at St. Peter's Square.

On Wednesday doctors inserted a feeding tube into his stomach to try boost his energy levels.

A day later he developed a urinary infection and high fever that soon precipitated heart failure, kidney problems and intermittent unconsciousness.

GATHERED IN PRAYER

As the Pope lay on his deathbed, worshippers around the globe held special prayers for the man who helped bring down the Iron Curtain but drew criticism from liberal Catholics who opposed his proclamations against contraception, abortion, married priests and women clergy.

Bracing for his passing, faithful from Burundi to the Philippines gathered in prayer for the charismatic man who enjoyed the third-longest papal reign and visited more countries than any other pope.

According to pre-written Church rules, the Pontiff's mourning rites will last 9 days and his body is likely to be laid to rest in the crypt underneath St Peter's Basilica.

The conclave to elect a new Pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with almost 120 cardinals from around the world gathering in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a successor.

There is no favourite candidate to take over. The former Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was himself regarded as an outsider when he was elevated to the papacy on October 16, 1978.

Few would have predicted then that the first non-Italian pope in 455 years would throw off the stiff trappings of the papacy, travel the globe and leave an indelible mark on history.

In over a quarter century on the world stage, he was both a champion of the downtrodden and an often contested defender of orthodoxy within his own church.

Historians say one of the Pope's most lasting legacies will be his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989.

"Behold the night is over, day has dawned anew," the Pope said during a triumphant visit to Czechoslovakia in 1990.

A decade after witnessing the fall of communism, he fulfilled another of his dreams. He visited the Holy Land in March 2000, and, praying at Jerusalem's Western Wall, asked forgiveness for Catholic sins against Jews over the centuries.

But while many loved the man, his message was less popular and he was a source of deep division in his own church.

Critics constantly attacked his traditionalist stance on family issues, such as his condemnation of contraception and homosexuality, and hope the next Pope will be more liberal.

However, he has appointed more than 95 percent of the cardinals who will elect his successor, thus stacking the odds that his controversial teachings will not be tampered with.

04-02-2005, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Strange Famous follower of the child's crusade?	Pope John Paul II is dead officially so, it seems: VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul II, the Pole who headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and played a key role in the fall of communism in Europe, has died, the Vatican has announced. He was 84. The news was immediately announced to around 60,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square on Saturday evening and was met with a long applause, an Italian sign of respect. Bells tolled and many people wept openly. Click to enlarge photo "Our Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father," Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told the crowds. A Vatican statement said the Pontiff died at 9.37 p.m (8.37 p.m. British time) in his private apartment. Apart from his battle against communism, John Paul will be also be remembered for his unyielding defence of traditional Vatican doctrines as leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics. After the Pope's health became critical on Thursday, crowds had staged a vigil in St. Peter's Square, praying for a man already being dubbed by some Catholics as "John Paul the Great". The Pontiff's health had deteriorated steadily over the past decade and earlier this year took a sharp turn for the worse. Once a lithe athlete and powerful speaker, he was already racked by arthritis and Parkinson's Disease, his voice often reduced to a raspy whisper. He was rushed to hospital twice in February and had to have a tracheotomy to ease serious breathing problems. But he never regained his strength from the operation and failed dramatically on two occasions to address crowds at St. Peter's Square. On Wednesday doctors inserted a feeding tube into his stomach to try boost his energy levels. A day later he developed a urinary infection and high fever that soon precipitated heart failure, kidney problems and intermittent unconsciousness. GATHERED IN PRAYER As the Pope lay on his deathbed, worshippers around the globe held special prayers for the man who helped bring down the Iron Curtain but drew criticism from liberal Catholics who opposed his proclamations against contraception, abortion, married priests and women clergy. Bracing for his passing, faithful from Burundi to the Philippines gathered in prayer for the charismatic man who enjoyed the third-longest papal reign and visited more countries than any other pope. According to pre-written Church rules, the Pontiff's mourning rites will last 9 days and his body is likely to be laid to rest in the crypt underneath St Peter's Basilica. The conclave to elect a new Pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with almost 120 cardinals from around the world gathering in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to choose a successor. There is no favourite candidate to take over. The former Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was himself regarded as an outsider when he was elevated to the papacy on October 16, 1978. Few would have predicted then that the first non-Italian pope in 455 years would throw off the stiff trappings of the papacy, travel the globe and leave an indelible mark on history. In over a quarter century on the world stage, he was both a champion of the downtrodden and an often contested defender of orthodoxy within his own church. Historians say one of the Pope's most lasting legacies will be his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe in 1989. "Behold the night is over, day has dawned anew," the Pope said during a triumphant visit to Czechoslovakia in 1990. A decade after witnessing the fall of communism, he fulfilled another of his dreams. He visited the Holy Land in March 2000, and, praying at Jerusalem's Western Wall, asked forgiveness for Catholic sins against Jews over the centuries. But while many loved the man, his message was less popular and he was a source of deep division in his own church. Critics constantly attacked his traditionalist stance on family issues, such as his condemnation of contraception and homosexuality, and hope the next Pope will be more liberal. However, he has appointed more than 95 percent of the cardinals who will elect his successor, thus stacking the odds that his controversial teachings will not be tampered with. __________________ "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered." The Gospel of Thomas