Pope John Paul II Dies

Posts: 1124 · Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:13 am Post subject: Pope John Paul II Dies

VATICAN CITY (April 2) - Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, died Saturday in his Vatican apartment. He was 84.

"The angels welcome you," Vatican TV said after the announcement came from papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.

"The Holy Father, John Paul II, died at 9:37 p.m. (1937GMT) in his private apartment. All procedures foreseen in the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici Gregis,' promulgated by John Paul II on Feb. 22, 1996, have been activated," his statement said

John Paul's funeral will be held within four to six days. The Vatican has declined to say whether he left instructions for his funeral or burial. Most popes in recent centuries have asked to be buried in the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica, but some have suggested the first Polish-born pope might have chosen to be laid to rest in his native country.

MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 8:09 a.m. ET April 3, 2005

DEATH CERTIFICATE | 8:06 a.m. ET

In a statement, the Vatican says that John Paul died of septic shock and cardio-circulatory collapse.

The official death certificate lists the ailments the 84-year-old pope suffered from, including acknowledging officially for the first time that John Paul had Parkinson's disease.

Separately, Italian media report that the pope's last word was "Amen."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7357164/

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 3:55 pm Post subject:

A very fitting last word from the pope. If I was the pope and had to choose a word, that probably would have been my choice too.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 12:41 pm Post subject:

fitting indeed. i saw this all over the news in Chicago, and how the cardinal was talking about the qualities theyll be looking for in the next pope. its gonnna be tough, theyve got high expectations.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure I'd want to be pope even if I was qualified...It seems like a lot of work and a lot of pressure =/

Posts: 1124 · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:05 am Post subject:

Bells, White Smoke Signal Newly Elected Pope

POSTED: 5:56 am EDT April 19, 2005
UPDATED: 12:32 pm EDT April 19, 2005

There's a new leader of the 1.1 billion member Catholic church.

Vatican Image
Vatican bells ring to signal that a new pope has been chosen.

Chiming bells and white smoke from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel confirmed Tuesday that cardinals have picked a successor to John Paul II. However, it will be a few more minutes before the world knows his name. The new pontiff will be introduced shortly.

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Ratzinger, the first German pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. He turned 78 on Saturday.