Thread: Pope John Paul II dies at 84

Tears, tolling bells as Catholic leader succumbs after lengthy illness
BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 4:13 p.m. ET April 2, 2005

Dylan Martinez / Reuters
A poster of Pope John Paul II is illuminated by candlelight in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican on Saturday night shortly after his death was announced.

VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century and became history's most-traveled pope, died on Saturday evening, the Vatican said in a statement. "The angels welcome you," Vatican TV said after the announcement came from papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls

The news was immediately announced to around 60,000 gathered in St Peter's Square. "Our Holy Father John Paul, 84, has returned to the house of the Father," Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told the crowds.


Bells and tears

The statement was met with a long applause, an Italian sign of respect. Bells tolled and many people wept openly.

World leaders reacted quickly to the loss.

"The world has lost a champion of peace and freedom" with the death of the pope, President Bush said in Washington.

In announcing the death, Sandri said, "The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 p.m. in his private apartment. All the procedures outlined in the apostolic Constitution `Universi Dominici Gregis' that was written by John Paul II on Feb. 22, 1996, have been put in motion."

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican No. 2 official, then led a tearful crowd of 70,000 people in St. Peter's Square in prayers for the dead pope.

The windows of the pope's apartment were still lit up following the announcement of his death.

The announcement of the pope’s death was distributed to journalists via e-mail at the same time it was being read to the faithful. John Paul expired as cardinals were leading some 70,000 people at St. Peter's Square in prayers for him in his "last journey."

Italy's ANSA news agency said Vatican and Italian flags were being lowered to half-staff across Rome and elsewhere.

The pope died after suffering heart and kidney failure following two hospitalizations in as many months. Just a few hours earlier, the Vatican had said he was in "very serious" condition but responded to members of the papal household.

Before the pope's death, thousands of pilgrims had gathered on St. Peter’s Square to stand vigil, many tearfully gazing up at his third-floor window. The faithful around the world joined them in prayer.


'Placid and serene' before death

Vatican Cardinal Achille Silvestrini visited John Paul Saturday morning, accompanied by another cardinal, Jean-Louis Tauran. “I found him relaxed, placid, serene. He was in his bed. He was breathing without labor. He looked like he lost weight,” Silvestrini said.

He said the when he and Tauran came into the room, the pope seemed to recognize them. “The pope showed with a vibration of his face that he understood, indicating with a movement of his eyes. He showed he was reacting,” he added.

Around the world, people of different faiths had joined in prayer for John Paul. “Catholics, fellow Christians, ... will be praying for him at this time as he comes toward the end of his extraordinary and wonderful life,” said Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the archbishop of Westminster and one of the most senior Catholic clerics in Britain, speaking to reporters outside London’s Westminster Cathedral.

'Man of peace'

In France, Muslim leader Dalil Boubakeur said Muslims had been praying for the pope, whom he described as a “man of peace” whose stature was a determining factor for change in the world.

In the pope’s home country, Poles gathered at churches as word spread Friday morning of his deteriorating condition. “I want him to hold on but it is all in God’s hands now,” said 64-year-old Elzbieta Galuszko at the church where the pope was baptized in Wadowice, southern Poland. “We can only pray for him so he can pull through these difficult moments.”

The pope received the sacrament for the sick and dying on Thursday evening. Formerly called the last rites, the sacrament is often misunderstood as signaling imminent death. It is performed both for patients at the point of death and for those who are very sick — and it may be repeated.

Hospitalized twice last month following two breathing crises, and fitted with a breathing tube and a feeding tube, John Paul had become a picture of suffering.

His 26-year papacy was marked by its call to value the aged and to respect the sick, subjects the pope turned to as he also battled Parkinson’s disease and crippling knee and hip ailments.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3305285

The world mourns the pope's passing
MSNBC staff and news service reports
April 2, 2005

REACTION POURING IN

"The angels welcome you," Vatican TV said after the announcement came from papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls, while shortly afterwards bells tolled in St. Peter’s Square.

Meantime, reaction came pouring in from across the world. Poland’s Lech Walesa: “[Without him] There would be no end of Communism or at least much later and the end would have been bloody.”

Israel’s Shimon Peres: “Even though he represented Catholicism, he managed, with his talent and personality, to also represent our entire global partnership.”

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque: “ We will never forget the pope's visit to Cuba in 1998... his words for peace... his courtesy to president Fidel Castro when he visited the Vatican (in 1997)."

THE POPE IS DEAD | 3:12 p.m. ET

Pope John Paul II has died. The news was conveyed in an e-mail to the world's media by papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. The message was simple, "The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST) in his private apartment."

CONDITION MAY NOT BE WORSENING | 1:44 p.m. ET

Dr. Peter Salgo, associate director of the intensive care unit at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, tells the Associated Press that the reference to fever in the latest Vatican statement doesn’t necessarily indicate that the pope’s condition is worsening. "This is not a turn for the better, but it doesn't mean he's getting worse," he is quoted as saying. "Fevers come and go and it is often the last thing to go away when you get over an infection. You can still have a fever in response to antibiotics."

• FUNERAL PLANNING |1:17 p.m. ET

New signs that a major funeral is imminent are being seen in Rome, as the city makes plans to accommodate tens of thousands of pilgrims expected to descend on the Vatican in the coming days.

Portable toilets and extra ambulances appeared in greater numbers near the Vatican during the day Saturday and the city transport system said it was increasing service on bus and subway lines which stop at St. Peter’s, the Associated Press reported.

City officials also lined up fairground pavilions and sport stadiums to house the faithful, and the Italian state railway said it would add additional trains to bring pilgrims to Rome.

• VATICAN UPDATE | 12:23 p.m. ET

In a written statement, the Vatican says Pope John Paul II remains in very grave condition with a high fever, but that he continues to respond "correctly" when addressed by aides.

• STATEMENT ON CONDITION RESCHEDULED | 11:40 a.m. ET

A Vatican spokesman says the statement on the pope's medical condition will now be issued approximately 12:10 p.m. ET.

• VATICAN STATEMENT DELAYED | 11:25 a.m. ET

The Associated Press reports that the Vatican's statement on the pope's medical condition, originally expected around 11 a.m. ET, has been delayed. There is no immediate word on when the announcement will be made.

• BUSH: POPE ‘AN INSPIRATION’ | 10:14 a.m. ET

President Bush calls Pope John Paul II was “a faithful servant of God and a champion of human dignity and freedom.”

“He is an inspiration to us all,” Bush says in his weekly radio address. “Laura and I join millions of Americans and so many around the world who are praying for the Holy Father.”

The president has received regular briefings about the pontiff’s condition since the pope’s health began deteriorating Thursday.

Networks are told to expect another update on the pope's medical condition by Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls at approximately 11 a.m. ET.

STAGE IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE DISMANTLED 8:04 am (EST)

In a sign the Vatican was preparing for a funeral, workers dismantle a semi-permanent stage in St. Peter's Square. For the funeral of the last pope in 1978, that space was occupied by a relatively small altar.


• ITALY SUSPENDS ALL WEEKEND SPORTS | 7:01 a.m. ET

Italy's highest sport authority announces the suspension of all weekend sport events as a sign of respect for the pope.

Gianni Petrucci, president of Italy's Olympic Committee (CONI), made the announcement of Serie A soccer matches, a playoff deciding the Italian ice hockey title, basketball and volleyball league matches and amateur sports.

• POST OFFICE TO ISSUE SPECIAL STAMP | 6:06 a.m. ET

The Vatican post office says it will issue a special stamp when the pope dies, which can only be used until a new one is elected.

The stamps are valid for the so-called “interregnum,” the time span that begins with the death of the pope and ends when a new one is elected, but other Vatican stamps will also be valid in that period.

The last time the Vatican post office issued vacant seat stamps was 1978, when John Paul the first died.

• VATICAN BUSINESSES OPEN | 5:19 a.m. ET

While the world awaits word on the pope, Vatican businesses such as the pharmacy and post offices open to the public as usual.

Tourists wait patiently in line to go through security screening to enter the basilica — both to visit it and to pray.

Police said they expected hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to arrive in the city over the next few days.

The city transport system said it was expanding service on bus and subway lines to the Vatican. State radio said portable toilets would be installed near the square.

• OBSERVERS WATCH FOR SIGNS | 4:07 a.m. ET

Over the centuries, the most traditional and telling signal that a pope has died has been the tolling of the Vatican’s bells, which prompts churches across Rome to join in. Other signs include the closing of the massive bronze portal beneath a portico off St. Peter’s and drawn shutters in the pontiff’s apartment.

The modern use of Bronze Door is spotty. In 1978, when two popes died in rapid succession, the tradition was ignored. Under normal circumstances, the Bronze Door is closed every night at around 8 p.m. and reopened in the morning. The doors reopened early Saturday.

And papal observers say it’s not clear whether the shutting of the door even in daytime would precede or follow an official announcement. The door remains closed until a new pontiff is elected.

POPE CONSCIOUS, SOURCES SAY | 3:08 a.m. ET

A Polish priest, citing Vatican sources, says the pope is in stable condition and has not lost consciousness.

"I have information from the Vatican from a half an hour ago. The Pope is in serious, but stable condition. The Pope has not lost consciousness," Father Konrad Hejmo, a close friend of the Pope's, tells Reuters.

•RUMORS OF VATICAN STATEMENT | 2:42 a.m. ET

Word of a possible statement from the Vatican at 3 a.m. ET is coming from a Romania-based TV station. NBC News has been unable to confirm the report. The press office reopened at 2 a.m. ET.

•WELL-WISHES FROM CHINA | 1:01 a.m. ET

China, which does not allow its Catholics to recognize the Vatican's authority, expressed concern for Pope John Paul II after a small group of local religious leaders and worshippers prayed for the pontiff.

"China expresses its concern and hopes the Pope can get meticulous medical treatment, recover and restore his health," a Foreign Ministry spokesman told Reuters by telephone.

• VATICAN PRESS OFFICE CLOSES | 12:14 a.m. ET

The Vatican press office, which stayed open throughout the night as several hundred people remained in St. Peter's Square to pray for the ailing pope, closed around 10 p.m. ET. The office was to open again at 3 a.m. ET.

• 'SERENELY CARRYING THE CROSS' | 10:51 p.m. ET

The pope's decision to remain at the Vatican rather than return to the hospital has become a source of reflection for many of those following the pontiff's medical struggle.

“The fact that he has not gone back to hospital (means) that he is serenely carrying the cross and ready to give up and to say, ‘It is finished,’” said Irish Bishop John Magi, who served as the pope's private secretary from 1978 to 1982.

“The pope has decided to die at home ... not fitted with tubes (but) facing death in front of the tomb of St. Peter,” said a front-page commentary Saturday in the newspaper La Repubblica.

• A QUIET NIGHT | 9:35 p.m. ET

As the night wears on, the crowds in St. Peter's Square thin.

• CUBANS LEARN OF POPE'S CONDITION | 9:10 p.m. ET

In a rare TV appearance, Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the top Roman Catholic prelate in Cuba, tells Cubans that the pope is dying. Ortega is rarely seen in the island’s media, which are run by Cuba’s nonreligious government.

• CREDIT FOR ENDING COMMUNISM | 8:35 p.m. ET

Lech Walesa, founder of the Solidarity movement that toppled communism in Poland in 1989-90, tells The Associated Press that without the pope’s leadership, “communism would have fallen, but much later and in a bloody way.”

• STANDING VIGIL | 7:40 p.m. ET

Wrapping themselves in blankets, many tearfully gaze at John Paul’s third-floor windows, where the lights remain on in the pope’s studio and his secretary’s room. The papal bedroom is not lit.

• "LONG AGONY" | 6:51 p.m. ET

The Rome newspaper La Repubblica quotes Vatican officials as saying the pope is "living a long agony" and that his strong will could draw out his death, which should not be expected "at any determined time."

• JEWISH WISHES | 6:35 p.m. ET

Rome's chief rabbi says he is praying in the piazza outside the pope's residence "as a sign of sharing in the grief of our brothers for their concerns and as a sign of warmth for this pope and for all that he has done."

• CROWD GROWS | 5:30 p.m. ET

As Friday turns into Saturday in Rome, police estimate that the gathering of worshipers in St. Peter's Square has grown past 70,000. The two windows of John Paul's apartment light up an otherwise darkened Apostolic Palace.

• PREDICTION OF DEATH | 4:45 p.m. ET

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the Vatican's health minister, tells Mexico's Televisa dal Vaticano that the pope is "on the verge of death."

• POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR HEADS TO ROME | 3:52 p.m. ET

NBC News reports that Cardinal Francis Arinze, the Nigerian cardinal viewed as one of the leading candidates to succeed Pope John Paul II, left Newark, N.J., where he was visiting, for Rome on Thursday.

• U.S. MASSES PLANNED | 3:50 p.m. ET

Cardinals Edward Egan of New York and Roger Mahony of Los Angeles prepare to celebrate special Masses this evening in the event of the pope's death.

• VATICAN STATEMENT PLANNED | 3:40 p.m. ET

The Vatican says it will issue a statement shortly.

• VATICAN DENIAL | 1:55 p.m. ET

The Vatican denies reports that Pope John Paul II has died.

• PRAYERS AROUND THE WORLD | 1:08 p.m. ET

Millions around the world are praying for the pope.

In Wadowice, Poland, people are leaving school and work early and heading to church to pray for their native son. "I want him to hold on, but it is all in God's hands now," Elzbieta Galuszko, 64, says at the church where the pope was baptized in Wadowice, in the south. "We can only pray for him so he can pull through these difficult moments."

In the Philippines, a crying Linda Nicol says she and her husband are asking God to grant John Paul "a longer life." Muslims in France are praying for the pontiff because he is a "man of peace," says Dalil Boubakeur, president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith.

Press secretary Scott McClellan says that the White House is in close contact with the Vatican about the pope's failing health and that President Bush is praying for him. Chief of staff Andrew Card is keeping Bush up to date on the pope's condition.

"The president and Mrs. Bush join people all across the world who are praying for the Holy Father. He's in our thoughts and prayers," McClellan tells reporters.

"The outpouring of love across the world is a testimony to the greatness of the pope. The pope is an inspiration to millions of Americans and people all over the world for his great moral leadership," McClellan says.

• POPE UNCONSCIOUS? | 12:46 p.m. ET

Italy's APCom news agency, without citing sources, is reporting that the pope is unconscious. Vatican officials are not immediately available for comment. Earlier, the Vatican had denied another report by the same agency that claimed the pontiff had slipped into a coma.

• POPE OPENED EYES EARLIER | 12:23 p.m. ET

Among the top church officials gathering at the pope's bedside is Cardinal Marcio Francesco Pompedda, a high-ranking Vatican administrator, who says the pope opened his eyes and smiled.

"I understood he recognized me. It was a wonderful smile — I'll remember it forever. It was a benevolent smile, a father-like smile," Pompedda tells RAI television. "I also noticed that he
wanted to tell me something but he could not. ... But what impressed me very much was his expression of serenity."

• HOPE FADING? | 12:21 p.m. ET

Ansa News Agency is reporting that medical sources are saying there is no more hope for the pope.

• BUSH IN WHITE HOUSE | 12:09 p.m. ET

NBC News White House Correspondent Norah O'Donnell reports that President Bush is in the Oval Office monitoring the situation with his senior staff.

• MEDICAL UPDATE | 12:04 p.m. ET

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls releases the following medical bulletin:

"The general conditions and cardiocirculatory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened. A gradual worsening of arterial hypotension has been noted and breathing has become shallow. The clinical picture indicates cardiocirculatory and renal insufficiency.

"The biological parameters are notably compromised. The Holy Father — with visible participation — is joining in the continual prayers of those assisting him."

'SHALLOW' BREATHING | 11:59 a.m. ET

The Vatican issues a statement saying the pope's condition has worsened. His breathing "has become shallow" and his kidney function is deteriorating.

• 'VERY GRAVE' | 11:30 a.m. ET

"Yesterday afternoon ... following a urinary infection, a state of septic shock and cardio-circulatory collapse set in," a Vatican statement says. "This morning, the Holy Father's health condition is very grave."

• PRAYING FOR THE POPE | 11:15 a.m. ET

Hundreds of anxious faithful gather outside St. Peter's Basilica in silent prayer as news spreads that the pope's health has abruptly deteriorated. Poles stream into churches to pray for the pope, their revered countryman who appears on the threshold of death. Millions of Roman Catholics in Asia pack churches and hold vigils.

• CONSCIOUS AND STABLE | 11:00 a.m. ET

Pope John Paul II is conscious and his condition is stable, but his blood pressure is unstable and he continues to have breathing problems.

The Vatican dismisses as "rubbish" Italian media reports that the pope has slipped into a coma.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7357164/page/5/

John Paul II and communism
A subtle push from Rome bears fruit in GdanskBy Andrew Nagorski
Newsweek
Updated: 2:54 p.m. ET April 2, 2005

NEW YORK - In the early 1960s, Zenon Kliszko, the chief ideologist of the Polish Communist Party, vetoed seven candidates put forward by the Roman Catholic Church to be bishops. The party ideologist reasoned that Karol Wojtyla, who had expressed little interest in mundane politics, could be manipulated easily. This has to rank as one of the most monumental miscalculations of the 20th century.

It was still the dark days of the Cold War, and the Polish government had the power to block such appointments. Kliszko warned he would continue vetoing candidates until he got the name he wanted.

Wojtyla, who, with the Polish Communist Party's approval, was installed as archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and was elected pope 14 years later, helped unleash the forces that brought about the fall of communism. He never overtly espoused any particular political agenda, but he lived his life according to the famous saying of the 19th century Polish poet Cyprian Norwid: "A man is born on this planet to give testimony to truth." As a bishop and then as pope, Wojtyla kept urging his countrymen and everyone else to "live in truth." Nothing could be more subversive in a communist system based on lies. His credo proved to be a highly contagious idea picked up and expanded upon by dissidents like Adam Michnik in Poland and Vaclav Havel in Czechoslovakia. The result was the flourishing of an alternative culture, including a vigorous underground press and eventually the birth of the free trade union movement Solidarity.

In his support of human rights, Wojtyla always assigned top priority to the struggle for religious freedom. He repeatedly sought to help the "silent churches," the persecuted in places like the Ukraine, Czechoslovakia and China. Sometimes, this meant bolstering underground churches, which secretly ordained priests; sometimes, it meant dispatching Polish priests, pretending to be ordinary travelers, to the Soviet Union, where they would celebrate masses in private houses. But most of the challenge was neither secretive nor conspiratorial. By talking about justice, morality and Europe's common "spiritual genealogy," Wojtyla undermined the communist system and the rationale for keeping the continent divided.

In 1979, when John Paul II was planning his first trip to his homeland after his election to the papacy, many communists had begun to realize how badly they had misread him. Soviet ruler Leonid Brezhnev warned the Polish leaders that he would "only cause trouble." A secret set of instructions sent out to teachers in Polish schools called the pope "our enemy." Later, when he barely survived the assassination attempt by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca, there were charges -- never proven -- that the Kremlin had ordered the hit. Poles saw Wojtyla's survival as a miracle. But the bigger miracle was yet to come when, inspired by his bold example, they reclaimed control of their country -- and triggered a peaceful revolution that transformed Europe and the world.


Andrew Nagorski is a former Newsweek bureau chief in Warsaw, Poland.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3276657/

A moral voice for peace and justice
A former ambassador to the Vatican remembers the pope
By Raymond L. Flynn
Special to MSNBC.com
Updated: 2:54 p.m. ET April 2, 2005

BOSTON - When I think about Pope John Paul II, I am reminded of two of my favorite prayers. The first is titled “One Solitary Life,” which was written by an anonymous author. The other is the “Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.” I will briefly paraphrase these two special prayers to explain why I believe they relate to Pope John Paul II.

“One Solitary Life” is about a poor preacher who never had mighty armies to rule, nor wealth, nor held powerful political positions. Yet 2000 years after His birth nobody has had as much of an effect on society and all mankind as this one poor priest: Jesus Christ. “The Prayer of St. Francis” asks Our Lord to make us instruments of peace; "where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury pardon."

Paradoxically, I am also reminded of what the Russian communist dictator Joseph Stalin sarcastically said of a previous pope's lack of influence: "How many divisions does he have?" All of these famous excerpts, with their conflicting opinions, help me understand the difficulty most people have in describing Karol Wojtyla.

But having known Pope John Paul II, long before he was pontiff, let me share with you one personal example above all others that will give you an insight as to how he looks at himself. This is not someone else's opinion, but from the man who best knows Karol Wojtyla -- and that is himself.

Pope John Paul II and former President Bill Clinton were preparing to address the media after their private meeting at St. Regis College in Denver, Colo. I informed both the pope and the president of the enormous media interest in their conversation and asked the Holy Father if he would agree to take questions about what the two leaders had to say to each other. I have a positive and special friendship with the man that dates back to when I first met him in Boston, when he was archbishop of Krakow, so I knew that he was emphatic, but sincere, in his response to me. "Raymond," he said, "I'm a Catholic priest." Somehow that comment said it all. Those four simple words spoke volumes as to who he felt he was and what he personally believed was his mission. His did not view himself as a powerful and famous political leader, but rather a moral voice for peace and justice.

Another defining moment was when I was able to observe, first-hand, John Paul II encompassing human compassion occurred in March of 1995. My wife, Kathy, and nine of her childhood friends — now mothers and grandmothers — came to Rome and stayed with us during my time as ambassador. At first, one of her friends, Charlene Bizokas, was not going to travel to Italy because she had recently lost her son, Ralph, in a tragic car accident. She was deeply despondent. A few days after the group — including Charlene — arrived, John Paul II presided over a major event in St. Peter's Square, with many important religious and secular leaders from all over the world attending.

During the service, I was able to make eye contact with Monsignor Dzwisz, the pope's secretary and long-time friend. He nodded to me in the crowd but later through my body language could sense that I had something important to communicate to the Holy Father. He sent a priest over to me discreetly, and I told him briefly about Charlene's anguish and pain. The priest then passed my words on to Monsignor Dzwisz and ultimately they reached the pope himself.

At the end of the service, I was told to wait on the steps by the Porta Sancta (holy door) with the "Boston mothers" as I introduced them to the Holy Father. He greeted them all warmly, but what he said to the grieving mother was so revealing about the man. "Mothers are given much love, but also much pain. Like Mary when her son died. I know that you have suffered, as Mary suffered. But like Mary, you will see your son again."

The Holy Father's face seemed to reflect the pain that lived in Charlene's heart. It was as if he were absorbing it, taking it from her. Charlene was sobbing, but you could almost feel her releasing some of the pain. Tears streamed down all of our faces, right there outside St. Peter's Basilica.

Even now, I still cannot stop thinking about what he once said to me. "Raymond, I'm a Catholic priest."



Raymond L. Flynn is the former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, a former mayor of Boston and author of "The Accidental Pope: A Novel" and "John Paul II: A Personal Portrait of the Pope and the Man."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3276506/

Taking shelter in Christ
Surviving Nazism and communism forged pope's resolve
By Matthew Bunson
Special to MSNBC.com
Updated: 2:54 p.m. ET April 2, 2005

Christ at the center of all things was a theme to which John Paul II returned until the very end of his life and which served as his unceasing prayer for the church and the world. On Oct. 22, 1978, only a few days after his election as pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II called upon the world: "Be not afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ. To his saving power upon the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid."

In his first major papal document, “Redemptor Hominis” ("The Savior of Man"), John Paul wrote, "Our spirit is set in one direction; the only direction for our intellect, will and heart is toward Christ our Redeemer."

This Christocentric theology had profound ramifications for the Catholic Church in the modern world as it presented humanity not in isolation from God but reaching its fullness through God's Son. By proclaiming that human dignity can be seen only in the light of Christ, John Paul II challenged modern thinking and oriented the church to defend the human person against the great threats posed to true freedom and dignity by the political and philosophical systems of the 20th century.

Karol Wojtyla had witnessed first-hand two of those dehumanizing movements, Nazism and communism. He emerged from those experiences refined and resolute that the church offered the only antidote to a spiritually arid age. John Paul saw the church not in a static defensive posture but in fidelity to the call of the Gospel to preach to all nations. As one of the most active members of the Second Vatican Council, the pope knew that the council had mandated a dialogue with the modern world. In the long conversation of his reign, he spoke for the church and apologized for the past errors of its members, pleaded for the reunion of the splintered Christian family.

He also called for unity in Christ for all, even if the world seemed unwilling or unprepared to listen. To the frustration of Western secular humanists, he rejected anew abortion, contraception and euthanasia. In the face of moral relativism, he confirmed church doctrine on both natural law and absolute moral norms as integral to the development of the authentic person. At the same time he confounded social conservatives by his opposition to the death penalty, and in his social teachings he brought the church squarely into the arena of economic development, social justice, the rights of workers, a "radical capitalistic ideology" and rampant consumerism. Beneath this oft-criticized stern and unyielding face of the pontiff's teachings, however, was a genuine optimism rooted in the Gospel.

In every instance of his teachings, he returned the church to Christ as the model for humanity, the restoration of the dignity intended by God, and the triumph over fear and sin. As he wrote in his book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”: "The power of Christ's Cross and Resurrection is greater than any evil which man could or should fear." John Paul II preached freedom for the world — not the ephemeral freedom of material possessions and moral license of modern culture, but the liberating horizon of acknowledging the sovereignty of God. Of this liberation, the pope declared, "To accept the Gospel's demands means to affirm all of our humanity, to see it in the beauty desired by God, while at the same time recognizing, in light of the power of God Himself, our weaknesses: 'What is impossible for men is possible for God.' (Luke 18:27)."



Matthew Bunson is editor of the Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor.




http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3276684/

God rest his soul and prayers to all that loved him. So sad.

Pope John Paul II: In Memoriam


One of the most influential figures of the late twentieth and early 21st century, Pope John Paul II’s leadership style made him one of the world’s most beloved figures. The impact of his tenure will be felt for years by the world's one billion Roman Catholics. Below, readers share their thoughts on the passing of the Pope.


A man of faith

Pope John Paul II crossed religious, geographical, and cultural boundaries. I'm a Presbyterian, but tonight we all pause and remember the life and faith of this wonderful man. Not everyone agreed with him on issues... but all can agree this was truly a man of great faith.
—Priscilla, Wilmington, Del.


Good shepherd

I remember that I was 11 years old when the elected Pope John Paul. I waited for the white smoke with antisapation like a child waits for Santa. I have now experienced the death of 3 popes in my life but none touched me like Pope John Paul II. I turned away from the Church for awhile but like the good shepherd he was, he spoke I listened to his words. Even without know it he touch me. I have grown closer in the last 7 years to my faith. I will truly his strength and wisdom.
—Catherine Joyce, Germantown, Tenn.


He blessed Indonesia

When Pope John Paul II kissed the Indonesian land at the first chance he landed on Indonesia in 1988 I was a child but I could felt the heavenly joy in my soul and felt as if my poor country blessed. He is the man with power that can shower every place he visited with tremendous peace. The world lost her guardian angel. I will miss Pope John Paul II, his eyes, his fatherly smile and the way he bend down and kiss the land. Be happy with God in heaven our beloved Pope.
—Debbin Malau, Jakarta, Indonesia


A loved man

Being a born again Christian I do not understand all of the Roman Catholic church doctrine. I do, however, believe that Pope John Paul II was a Godly man and he was loved by many. He worked to bring understanding to other religions and to spread peace throughout the world.
—Cyndi Woods, Moreno Valley, Calif.


A blessed ticket

Annette Novak, Independence, Mo.: In September of last year we had general audience tickets to see the Pope. I knew we would be soooo far back, but the nun assured me, laughing, not to worry, "His blessing reaches that far!" she said. On the train, we met a girl, who by chance asked us if we were going to the Papal Audience. She gave us extra tickets. It was a total miracle! We ended up sitting so very close to him. It was a day I'll never forget, and feel very blessed to have experienced.


A blessing from the pope

Rose Cahill, Yarmouth Port, Mass.: This past summer, while in Rome we came in contact with a young Italian restaurant owner. The owner took a liking to my sons, befriended us, and by the end of the evening, he told us to be ready by 8 a.m. and he would pick us up and take us to the Pope's summer home for his weekly Sunday Blessing. There, we were escorted by the Swiss Guard to the very front of the court yard. He was wheeled out on to a stage and spoke for 45 minutes in Italian. Later to our surprise... we were escorted up on stage to receive a blessing from Pope John Paul II.


Texas trip

from Daniel E. Maeso: In my 69 years of age and during my 32 years in Public Service I have met heads of state and many dignitaries such as Presidents and Attorneys General but I had never had the Spiritual experience of feeling the presence of God in front of me until I was blessed to shake hands with his holiness Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Antonio, Texas in 1987


Souvenir from Alaska visit

from Susan Vallejo, Anchorage Ala.:
If someone had told me back when I first arrived in Alaska that Pope John
Paul would one day visit beautiful Alaska in 1981, I would never have believed it ! But there I was standing with my family in the snow with a huge crowd in Anchorage that day looking in awe watching Pope John Paul II in his long white coat and bright red Vatican hat walk through the crowds,
touching children sweetly as he always does, grinning widely with his twinkling eyes.


Polish pride

When I heard the news of Pope John Paul's death, I remembered the day he was elected Pope in 1978. As a descendant of Polish Jews, I felt a surge of pride despite a history of problematic relations between the country's Catholic majority and its Jewish community which lived there for 1,000 years. I wished him well then, and I cried today while watching the news. As a Jew I am grateful for the things that he did to build bridges to our people and eliminate the old prejudices and stereotypes that had corrupted relations between Christendom and Judaism. I will always remember the image of him at the Wailing Wall praying and placing the note in the crevices of our people's most holy place. I will also remember his going to the synagogue in Rome and to Auschwitz and his willingness to address the church's policies during the Holocaust by opening the Vatican files. However, even more so, I will remember him as a man who was directly impacted by the Nazi occupation of his country, just as my ancestors were, and his courage in fighting both the Nazis and the Communists who were oppressing his country. Without his inspiration, Communism would not have fallen in Eastern Europe.
—Steve Tursky, Fairfax, Va.

God's gift to us

Occasionally God grants us the gift of a person, who brings his message to the people in such a way, that all are moved by it and perhaps some will even act on it. John Paul II was God's gift to us in this past century. We may not see the likes of him for a long time to come.
—Michael, Fort Worth, TX.

Muslim reaction

As a Muslim Pakistani woman, he is the first and only Pope I have known in my 29 years of life. I always considered him as a man of peace because he always stood for the peace of the world by talking against the wars. He always stood against the sexual scandals no matter how harsh those scandals were on his religion. He touched the heart of not only millions of Catholics but also millions of Muslims by standing against wars and cruelty.
—Farheen Rizvi, Forest Hill, Md.

A man of the world

Pope John Paul II saw goodness in all people, because he saw God in all people. Through his travels, he interacted with rich and poor alike, showing that he believed in the dignity of all men. Whether or not you agreed with him, his actions toward others demanded that you respected him. I believe that he left a mark on the world and the papacy, and I'm sure that now he rests in peace with the Lord, whom he served so well.
—Bob Gan, Honesdale, Pa.


Father of the largest family

The man who endured so much strife in his life, the man with no family, who became the beloved Father of the largest family in the world, has left us to go home to be with his Father. God bless you and keep you John Paul, the entire world will miss you!
—Eileen, Newport News, Va.


Jewish perspective

As a Jew and an American, I am saddened by the loss of the Pope. While I do not agree with his position on certain social issues like abortion and birth control, I have always respected and admired his efforts to bring together the diverse interests of the people of Earth. His outreach to Jews, Muslims and people of other faiths and his determination to make all of us realize how important it is that we learn to respect each other and live together in peace makes him one of the most important people in history. I hope in death that he can remain a beacon of hope and teacher to all of the preciousness of life. Rest in peace.
—Bob Korren, Bedford, N.Y.

I can't help it. Do you think he knows the truth about Mary Magdalen yet? Do Popes go to purgatory like everyone else or do they get a direct ticket?

Go ahead and think this is disrepectful, but it's a little hard to feal sorry for someone who could be dining at Jesus table as I type.

Exceptional encounters with the Pope
Updated: 9:17 p.m. ET April 2, 2005

Pope John Paul II’s eagerness to travel the world and meet with Catholics face-to-face will be one of the things for which he is most remembered. MSNBC readers share their experiences and encounters with the Pontiff, and how these moments impacted their lives.

Kiss of an Angel

We took our three boys to Europe this past summer: Ireland, Germany, Austria, and finally Rome. While in Rome we came in contact with a young Italian restaurant and club owner. The owner took a liking to my sons, I think because they picked me up, wheelchair and all, and carried me down 12-18 steps to a meal and performance that was out of this world. After all the patrons left, he sat and talked with us. By the end of the evening, he told us to be ready by 8 a.m. and he would pick us up and take us to the Pope's summer home for his weekly Sunday Blessing.

I'm not even sure if I slept. Before I knew it, we were on our way to what I thought would be a blessing to all who gathered in the courtyard of his summer home. My son, Chris and I were escorted by the Swiss Guard to the very front of the court yard.

The Pope did not open a window to bless the crowd. Instead, he was wheeled out on to a stage maybe five feet in front of us. Chris and I sat in total awe (I looking like drowned rat in lieu of the most wild thunder and lightening/torrential down pour of a storm I have ever been in) as the darkest day of our trip miraculously turned away to the light on the Son and rainbows overhead. He spoke for nearly 45 minutes.

When all the Priests, Bishops, Cardinals, and Dignitaries were escorted up on stage to be blessed by our Holy Father, Chris and I were summoned by the Swiss Guard to follow them, to what I thought would be to a safe passage out of the courtyard. To our surprise we were escorted up on stage, and yes, to receive a blessing from Pope John Paul II. Chris and I are now bound by this silent and holiest of moments for the rest of our lives.
—Rose Cahill, Yarmouth Port, Ma.


A blessed ticket

Annette Novak, Independence, Mo.: In September of last year we had general audience tickets to see the Pope. I knew we would be soooo far back, but the nun assured me, laughing, not to worry, "His blessing reaches that far!" she said. On the train, we met a girl, who by chance asked us if we were going to the Papal Audience. She gave us extra tickets. It was a total miracle! We ended up sitting so very close to him. It was a day I'll never forget, and feel very blessed to have experienced.


A blessing from the pope

Rose Cahill, Yarmouth Port, Mass.: This past summer, while in Rome we came in contact with a young Italian restaurant owner. The owner took a liking to my sons, befriended us, and by the end of the evening, he told us to be ready by 8 a.m. and he would pick us up and take us to the Pope's summer home for his weekly Sunday Blessing. There, we were escorted by the Swiss Guard to the very front of the court yard. He was wheeled out on to a stage and spoke for 45 minutes in Italian. Later to our surprise... we were escorted up on stage to receive a blessing from Pope John Paul II.


Texas trip

from Daniel E. Maeso: In my 69 years of age and during my 32 years in Public Service I have met heads of state and many dignitaries such as Presidents and Attorneys General but I had never had the Spiritual experience of feeling the presence of God in front of me until I was blessed to shake hands with his holiness Pope John Paul II during his visit to San Antonio, Texas in 1987



Welcoming the pope

If someone had told me back when I first arrived in Alaska that Pope John
Paul would one day visit beautiful Alaska in 1981, I would never have believed it ! But there I was standing with my family in the snow with a huge crowd in Anchorage that day looking in awe watching Pope John Paul II in his long white coat and bright red Vatican hat walk through the crowds,
touching children sweetly as he always does, grinning widely with his twinkling eyes.


Dog sledding with the Pope

When the Pope came to Anchorage in 1981, I decided what a better way for him to get a real sense of Alaska than to give him a ride with my sled dogs! Plans were all set to drive him on our Park Strip where he was going to be meeting with the people of Anchorage. But because of security concerns, the ride was shifted to the airport where I was to take him to his plane by dog team. Once he reached the airport, I was to drive him to his plane. When the pope appeared, I was standing at the back of the dog sled. I had the dog team harnessed and a professional dog driver standing beside each pair of dogs. After I was introduced, I had an idea: “Your holiness, would you like to drive the dogs and let me do the riding?”

He smiled quizzically and looked at the archbishop before answering. The archbishop said, “If Vaughan says its safe, it’s all right with me.”

“What must I do?” his Holiness asked.

“It’s very simple. You stand on the runners and hold these handlebars, and I’ll do the rest. You just ride along to the plane.” He stood on the back ready to go. I said, “Your holiness, there’s one thing I feel that I should tell you before we start. Two of my dogs have terrible names and I don’t want to offend you if I have to call out their names.”

He waited for a minute and said, “What are their names?”

“One is Satan and the other is Devil.” He thought a few seconds, and then he smiled. “No don’t take them out — just as long as I’m doing the driving.”

It was a rare privilege for me and I’m blessed to have had the opportunity.
—Carolyn Muegge-Vaughan



Cheered like crazy

I was lucky to see the Pontiff when he came to Chicago in the ‘70s. I excused my way up to the front about 20 blocks. When an armless man played the guitar for him, he jumped off the stage to give him a hug. We cheered like crazy. I will miss my Father.
—Vinnie Montez