Pope John Paul II Has Gone to His Heavenly Home with God 2:37 pm EST

BBC News Online World Edition ^ | April 1, 2005

[bd476]

Ping.

[Stellar Dendrite]

The BBC has got the champagne on ice, and glass in hand....

[kingu]

Bump for Breaking News

[bd476]

Pope Close to Death, Receives Communion -Vatican

13 minutes ago Top Stories - Reuters

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul was in a "very grave" condition on Friday and appeared close to death after suffering cardio-circulatory collapse and shock, the Vatican said in a statement.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the 84-year-old Pope had been given the "Holy Viaticum" -- communion reserved for those close to death -- and had decided himself not to go to hospital for treatment.



The Vatican statement said the Pope had received cardio-respiratory assistance on Thursday and on Friday morning was still "conscious, lucid and tranquil."

It said the Pope celebrated Mass with his close aides at 6.00 a.m. (11 p.m. EST) on Friday.



Pope John Paul's fragile health took a sharp turn for the worse on Thursday evening as he developed a very high fever caused by a urinary infection.

[smoothsailing]

I sure hate to hear this.

Prayers for the Pope.

:(

[onyx]

Very sad.

[bd476]

Prayers for Pope John Paul II. Yes, it is very sad, Onyx.

[LibFreeOrDie]

The article says the Pope lost 42 lbs (!) since his throat surgery, which I hadn't heard reported before. No wonder they had him on a nasogastric feeding tube.

[flutters]

Jesus said,

"Come to Me all you who are

weary and burdened, and

I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

[bd476]

Today they announced his high fever from a bladder infection. Bladder infections and other infections are not uncommon when older patients are hospitalized frequently as the Pope has been.

[spinestein]

Can't be too sad about a long life, well lived, making great contributions to humanity.

[The Noodle]

Indeed - his is a life to rejoice. It sounds like he will soon receive his well-deserved reward. Even as a non-Catholic, I not only prayer for him, but I also pray that his successor is up to the task of filling some very large shoes.

[Catspaw]

The doctor on MSNBC said the Pope may have had a catheter--that's why my very ill brother-in-law spent a week in the ICU. He has a catheter and got a bladder infection on top of pneumonia. He survived, but he may be stronger than the Pope, but only marginally.

[bd476]

Spinestein wrote: "Can't be too sad about a long life, well lived, making great contributions to humanity."

While it is true that Pope John Paul II has given much to humanity, and has lived an exemplary, self sacrificing life, it is in anticipation over his eventual passing that finds people sad. People will be in grief and mourning. It is sad to lose a great man.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Another Freeper pointed it out to me that it is ironic how parallel his condition has been running to Terri Schiavo. This really clinches it. I don't think that he will make it through the night.

[bd476]

It also might have been very difficult for the Pontiff to swallow after his throat surgery.

God Bless him in his valiant effort to continue in his earthly duties and responsibilities while weak, in pain and suffering.

[Texas Songwriter]

I believe this pope is a great man and a man who, to a great extent, helped Ronald Reagan shape the fall of communisms in the east block coutries. I understand he has stood firm against New Age devotees in the Vatican and have read speculation that at his passing a new pope with leaning toward the New Age Movement will be selected. I do not keep up with Vatican politics. Can someone with knowlege give me information along this line?

[Texas Songwriter]

I believe this pope is a great man and a man who, to a great extent, helped Ronald Reagan shape the fall of communisms in the east block coutries. I understand he has stood firm against New Age devotees in the Vatican and have read speculation that at his passing a new pope with leaning toward the New Age Movement will be selected. I do not keep up with Vatican politics. Can someone with knowlege give me information along this line?