General Chat / Pope John Paul II Passes Away

Catholic or not, this is pretty depressing news right now.

http://www.cnn.com/2...ope1/index.html

VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II's breathing is becoming shallow and several of his major organs -- including his kidneys and heart -- are growing weaker, the Vatican said Friday.

"The general conditions and cardio-respiratory conditions of the Holy Father have further worsened. A gradual worsening arterial hypotension has been noted, and breathing has become shallow," the Vatican press office said.

"The clinical picture indicates cardio-circulatory and renal insufficiency. The biological parameters are notably compromised. The Holy Father, with visible participation, is joining the continual prayers of those assisting him."

The Vatican has denied reports in the Italian media that the pope had died.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said earlier that the pope was in "very serious condition" Friday afternoon, but he is "lucid, fully conscious" and "very serene."

Navarro-Valls also said earlier that the pope's blood pressure was "unstable" and that he "... asked for the Holy Scriptures to be read to him."

The pope had a number of visitors Friday, including the Vatican's secretary of state and several cardinals. Navarro-Valls said the pope celebrated a Mass and remembered that today was Friday, the day he traditionally follows the ritual of the Stations of the Cross and he meditated on that ritual.
Worldwide prayers

At 7 p.m. local time Friday, a Mass was being held in honor of the pontiff at St. John Lateran Church, celebrated by Camillo Ruini, vicar of Rome.

"In this moment, he is more than ever our pope -- the vicar of Christ --- who livens us with his passion," Ruini said.

At the Mass Friday night, Ruini said the pope was "facing the most difficult test of his long and extraordinary life. He is living with that incredible serenity and he has abandoned himself to the hands of Christ, with whom he has always lived, worked, suffered and had joy."

Italians, Catholics and the faithful the world over have been asked to intensify their prayers for the Holy Father in light of his declining health. (Full story)

In another development, the papal press office issued a list of 17 new papal appointments, including bishops and archbishops, and a list of six archbishops who resigned.

The appointments and the resignations were approved previously by the pope, it said.

The announcements may be an attempt by the Vatican press office to indicate that the business of the Vatican continues. And if the list were to be issued, it would have to be issued now, ahead of a papal death.
Septic shock

Earlier, Navarro-Valls said in a written statement that the pope had suffered cardiocirculatory collapse and septic shock Thursday evening.

According to a Web site of the National Institutes of Health, septic shock is "a serious, abnormal condition that occurs when an overwhelming infection leads to low blood pressure and low blood flow.

"Vital organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver may not function properly or may fail. Decreased urine output from kidney failure may be one symptom."

Italian police began closing the streets leading to the Vatican early Friday on expectations that due to the pontiff's grave condition, more pilgrims would come to the area.

Navarro-Valls said the pope was being treated in the Vatican, because it was his desire to remain in his residence and not return to the hospital.

The pope was "being assisted by his personal doctor, Renato Buzzonetti, as well as two intensive care specialists, a cardiologist and an ear, nose and throat specialist, as well as two nurses," the statement said.

On Thursday night, as his health deteriorated, the pontiff received the Catholic Church's sacrament Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction -- a ritual of healing, a Vatican source told CNN.

The sacrament is given to patients who are seriously ill in addition to those who are near death. The pope also received the sacrament in 1981, when he was wounded by a would-be assassin.

The news of the pope's worsening condition came two days after the Vatican revealed that he had a feeding tube inserted through his nose to provide more nutrition, as he struggled to recover from a tracheotomy five weeks ago.

The 84-year-old pope suffers from a number of chronic illnesses, including crippling hip and knee ailments and Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder that can make breathing and swallowing difficult.

CNN Rome Bureau Chief Alessio Vinci and Vatican Analyst John Allen contributed to this report.





A few news reports have said that he has passed, but as of right now, The Vatican has denied this. But The Pope IS gravely ill, and his passing seems iminent. And quite frankly, this will be a sad day when he does go. He is a great man, and I hope he goes peacefully.

I agree that when he does go, it'll be a sad day, no matter what faith you are. He's such a major figure that I feel everyone will be affected by it some way.

Sorry Corky, I have to disagree with you. The man spouted out vitriol, biggotry and hatred.

While I don't wish anyone (well, almost anyone) dead...he IS 84.

And he's (in my humble opinion) one of the larger problems that I have with organized religion.

Something else comes to mind from the bible specifically. A lot of peeps "idolized" this man.....hmmmm, what was that was written about idolaters?

Finally, I just think he's a shmuck. And to me, it won't be a sad day when he "goes".

It will be a sad day when he dies, he will be sorely missed as he has done a load for religion in his reign here on Earth. I disagree with your opinion on the man Meretrix, i know you are entitled to an opinion but talking about the Pope like that, to an extent, upsets me. Partly because 'Pope' is my surname.

-X-

Good people die of age every day. I don't see what makes the pope so special as to recieve extra sympathy. As if he is more than any other human.

It has always seemed to me that glorification of ones own self is the first priority for high ranking Catholic officials, so I am skeptical as to whether he (or any previous pope, for that matter) really did Christianity any good. Goes along with what Meretrix said about idolatry. Many people practically worship the upper echelon in Catholicism, which takes away from the real purpose- the worship of God.

But I suppose the debate about his usefullness to society is beyond the point here. It is sad. Just as sad as the demise of the poor starved person halfway around the world in fact, but no more.

Sorry Corky, I have to disagree with you. The man spouted out vitriol, biggotry and hatred.

While I don't wish anyone (well, almost anyone) dead...he IS 84.

And he's (in my humble opinion) one of the larger problems that I have with organized religion.

Something else comes to mind from the bible specifically. A lot of peeps "idolized" this man.....hmmmm, what was that was written about idolaters?

Finally, I just think he's a shmuck. And to me, it won't be a sad day when he "goes".

That's pretty hateful in its own right...

The Pope is the leader of one of the largest churches in the world. You may have disagreed with what he preached, but that doesn't make him an evil man. He said that he doesn't believe in gay marriage or gay intercourse. That's it... It's not an appealing church for homosexuals, but that doesn't make him evil.

He's not Billy Hinn, pretending to cure people on God's behalf. He's an appointed leader of their church. And they don't idolize him, but they do listen to him. They believe that he is chosen by God in the line of Peter to look over the church and be the final authority on related manners to their church.

For goodness sakes, it's disgusting to wish anyone dead, no matter what. You may not have liked them, but that doesn't mean you should be one who condemns them either.

Freak...you're a dumbass. I NEVER said he was evil, or did you just not bother to READ my post. I said he was a shmuck. Lots of people probably think the same thing of you, or me for that matter.

As for being a leader of "one of the largest religions" that's fine. I don't agree with organized religion, because people in positions of power tend to, either knowingly, or unwittingly, abuse that power, and someone always gets crushed in the wake.

I also NEVER said that I wished him dead (the almost no one comment was referring to one of me ex's).
So...no. Nothing hateful said by me about the pope. I wish I could say the same about him.

And he went a lot farther than just condemming gay marriage. In one of his more recent passages (from his new book I believe), he called gay and lesbian people a new ideology of evil (his words not mine). THAT sounds hateful.

He said that he doesn't believe in gay marriage or gay intercourse.  That's it...

That's it?!?

Freak, the Pope isn't the leader of the Catholic church, he is what they consider an incarnation of God on earth. Supposedly when the Pope assumes the throne the spirit of God is inserted into his body. That's why Catholics everywhere are his religious slaves, and the Catholic church is quite a dictatorship. Besides, he's been the pope for far too long, and I really don't agree with what he says at all. Plus, if he really is an incarnation of God, then let God kill him off. I hope he dies personally if only in the hope of a more progressive Pope. Though I doubt that would happen.

I couldn't care less. The decrepit old bastard has been "on death's door" for like five years now. People die every day so just get on with it already. that said, I want a Popemobile, that shit is pimp.

Sorry Corky, I have to disagree with you. The man spouted out vitriol, biggotry and hatred.

While I don't wish anyone (well, almost anyone) dead...he IS 84.

And he's (in my humble opinion) one of the larger problems that I have with organized religion.

Something else comes to mind from the bible specifically. A lot of peeps "idolized" this man.....hmmmm, what was that was written about idolaters?

Finally, I just think he's a shmuck. And to me, it won't be a sad day when he "goes".

amen

Ive been visiting in NYC (Manhatten) and everyone has been flocking to Saint Patrick's Cathedral (including myself >_>).

He's an excellent figure, and he is going to be missed. I saw him once during a visit to the vatican. People were going nuts for him.

What Meretrix says. And said.

Anyone else find it kinda... signagenessish how Terri Schivo dies, then the Pope does/will?

Yes.

What Meretrix says. And said.

Anyone else find it kinda... signagenessish how Terri Schivo dies, then the Pope does/will?

Yes.

yeah I thought that was weird, but I can't figure out what it might mean so I forgot about it.

The Pope is not considered God incarnate. He is considered a descendant of Peter.

For those of you looking for a "progessive" Pope this is about as far as you are going to get. Many within the Catholic Church consider him to be way too liberal in his beliefs.

The Pope kicked the bucket, guys.

He's dead .

Can Popes go to hell?

I doubt it, since Catholics invented it.

I hope they choose the African cardinal.