POPE JOHN PAUL, II HAS DIED OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM VATICAN IMMINENT (Breaking Nws) 9:37 PM Rome 4/2

FOX news | April 2, 2005

[CitizenM]

(Saturday) Vatican City, Rome Italy - The official Vatican announcement by Cardinal Ruini, is expected momentarily. Media is standing by as we watch and wait.

Synopsis of the Worldwide Two Day Vigil: "The Pilgrim Pope" - Since Thursday, March 31 and the announcement of the Pope’s critical condition, high fever, and urinary tract infection, and subsequent septic shock there has been a constant vigil of the faithful while media coverage has been continually providing updates along with stories, and historical information on this holiest of holy men. Early in the afternoon of Friday, April 1, international media and the people throughout the world were sent into frenzy that began immediately after the noontime Mass (where special prayers had just been offered for The Pontiff’s health and peace). While Mass was still being held, word somehow spread that the Pope had lost consciousness; and then the announcement that he had also suffered kidney failure. Shortly, a (false) broadcast on networks every proclaimed that The Pontiff had died. The world held its breath and waited for the “official” notification, while all over the mourning began, and people dropped to their knees in St. Peter's Square. People stopped working, televisions and radio commentators spoke in solemn tones. But, no "official” word came and well over fifteen minutes had passed. Finally a Vatican spokesperson announced that the Holy See was, indeed, still alive! Contrary to all announcements, his heart was beating and his brain was still functioning. Hours passed, and no news of any change in the Pope's condition was presented while people continued to pray and wonder. It was being assumed that the many procedures and preparations were being made within the Vatican. In the streets of Vatican City people noted the obvious security measures taking place: more barricades were erected, and more significant crowd control procedures were implemented in preparation for the expected rise in the vigilant. An additional number of streets were closed to motor traffic; a number of ambulances were placed on the immediate grounds for any required emergency assistance for the people. At approximately 5:00 p.m. (US EST) another announcement was made that John Paul, II was conscious and had never lost consciousness. Sorrowful, vigilant crowds have filled St. Peter’ Square rising to about 70,000 during the day Thursday. During that time hymns rang out spontaneously and a Rosary Ceremony was held. Churches filled with the prayerful around the world. In Poland, especially, people gathered in the streets and outside the building in Krakow where the Pope stayed when he visited what he always called “home.” Luminary candles were placed all over the grounds. Pilgrimages from all over Europe to Vatican City were announced underway and included Catholics and those of all faiths whose love, respect, and admiration of this Holy man transcends all religious and ethnic lines. The crows are expected to swell to over 100,000 in the Vatican. At 11:00 A.M (Rome time) Saturday, the Vatican , spokesman, Navarro-Fellas, made a statement that the Pope's condition remained “very grave” but basically unchanged. He was not in a coma, although there had been periods of unconsciousness ( medical commentators told us that was most likely due to the toxins that built up in his system). However, he would awaken and even interact and be alert. The spokesman related the Pope's love of the children. Note: He was so loved by them they nicknamed him “Papa,” and “JPII.”. A huge “World Youth Day” has been in the planning for years and was scheduled for Aug. 20, 2005, Cologne, Germany.( Message of the Holy Father To the Youth of the world on the Occasion of the 20th World Youth Day ) Navarro-Fellas related how the Holy Father had been told that mostly young people had been vigilant in the square the night before. That seemed to please him and he spoke, difficult to understand, but he said:

"I have looked for you, now you have come to me. Now I thank you." Later in the day it was reported that, although seriously ill, he had completed some official duties and assigned a few more bishops. Mentally, when he was awake, it was related, he was able to remain focused. So, from his bed he was still handling some unfinished business he wanted to finalize, it was said. His bedroom was described at one point (giving us a beautiful mental picture). We were told it was all white with white fluffy bedding, and John Paul, II was propped up in a semi-sitting position. It was described as serene and peaceful and His Eminence was receiving constant attention, particularly from the three nuns who have regularly cared for him. Saturday evening, dusk came again to Rome, and a candlelight vigil was renewed by the faithful around 6:00 PM. A respectful silence fell over the crowds as they awaited news. It was said that, again, that the crowd of approximately 60,000 contained a significant number of young people who, although respectful in their attendance, had become quite boisterous. Media personnel reported there was an air of reverence punctuated with jubilation for His Holiness, as they celebrated his coming passage into Heaven. It was not one bit an unruly crowd, and quite well-mannered. Finally around 7:00 PM (Rome) another update came from the chief spokesman, Navarro-Fallas, who presented the media with a written statement that read: “ The Pontiff had developed a high fever in the late morning. His physical condition is still quite serious. He is responding to household aides.” The message appeared somewhat terse but was, evidently, meant to dispel rumors that had arisen that he was in a complete coma. It was also noted on the broadcasts that the Holy See could have been experiencing periods of ecstasy/rapture that he has oft slipped into when in fervent prayer, and, perhaps, was not just “unconscious.” Since that is somewhat misunderstood by the majority of people, it was not openly discussed by the Vatican spokesperson. At the time of his death, and once it has been ascertained to be definite, and he has been removed from his bedroom, the Camerlengo of the Vatican locks and seals the private apartment of the Pontiff. The pope’s Fisherman’s ring with his unique seal are smashed with a silver hammer to symbolize the end of his reign and to prevent forgeries. No autopsy is performed. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger will then speak to the people. The Bronze Door, a massive portal beneath a portico off St. Peter's Square is closed and is kept shut until a new pontiff is elected When the dramatic closing of the shutters on the windows of the Pontiff's apartment takes place that serves as another traditional symbol to the world that Pope John Paul, II, (born Karol Wojtyla, May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland) the world’s first Polish pope, has completed his work and extraordinary reign of 26 years. He will have left his earthly bonds to take his well-deserved place of honor among the highest of angels. Peace, my dear Holy Father. May the love of the people you served so unselfishly surround and lift you as you rise, effortlessly, through the clouds. We rejoice. You are no longer suffering pain or discomfort, your journey is over and you will be rewarded with God's waiting embrace, and the open arms of Our Lady of Fatima for whom you had such special devotion. Pope John Paul, The Great Pope John Paul, II - May 18, 1920-April 2, 2005 Holy Father, you led us in life. You left us your love.

[adc]

Thank you for a beautiful collage.

[Petes Sandy Girl]

I appreciate your kindness in sharing the pictorial with us. I will send it to friends and family.

[Mo1]

Thank you Smartass

[maica]

Nice sketch of the Pope's influence in Poland and the cascade of events behind the Iron Curtain.

One guest on Fox News interviewed by Jim Angle, addressed this story, but he was not allowed enough time to really make his point. I believe that he was an ambassador, (current or former, I don't know), from Poland. His name sounded like Brezhinsky but had a lot more letters in it.

[Smartass]

On the contrary, thank you both.   You two have been enlightening.

[Hand em their arse]

Ok, I must say I had quite a laugh see Mo1's #883 reply.... It comes across pretty funny, you have to admit.. :)

[RushCrush]

John Paul II you now belong to the ages, but we liked it better when you belonged to us.

Rest in peace Papa.

[CitizenM]

The Official Portrait

Pope John Paul, II - "The Pilgrim Pope"

[cyncooper]

Vigil masses on Saturday after sunset satisfy the Sunday obligation for the same reason that masses after sunset on Sunday satisfy the Sunday obligation: Because the Church says so.

And our custom is to attend Saturday evening Mass as we did tonight. The second reading for tomorrow (that we heard tonight) is from the First letter of St. Peter.

To the non-Catholics, the first Pope of our Church.

[cyncooper]

And our exit hymn tonight was Amazing Grace!

[God luvs America]

In 1979 I was a junior at JFK Catholic high school in Somers, NY.

When the Holy Father came to New York that October he went to Madison Square Garden for a Youth Concert. The NY archdiocese gave tickets to all the Catholic high schools in the NY area. My buddy and I went...to get the day off from school and hang out in the city. I did it with my mothers blessings...who thought I would be praying with the Pope all day.

The further away from NYC your school was the further upstairs you sat- hence the dozen kids from my high school who went were as far away as possible- My buddy and I snuck downstairs and sat in a stairwell. I told him, "When they introduce the Pope it will be total mayhem-we will then run to the front and get as close as we can".

Soon after that they made an announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen-Boys and Girls...his holiness Pope John Paul the second"...my buddy and I rushed to the front.

The Garden went berserk as he came out in his Pope mobile at the time- a white pick-up truck in which he stood in the back.

Miraculously the Pope stopped right in front of us! A young girl was lifted from the crowd, put on the hood of the truck and, holding both her hands, the Pope made like he was dancing with her....it turned out that young girl's father was a NYPD detective who died in the line of duty six months earlier.

When my buddy and I crashed towards the front we ended up standing right next to that young girl and her mother. We were no more then ten feet from the Pontiff!!! We were all over the TV news that night and on the covers of every newspaper the next day.

Two weeks prior to seeing the Pope at the Garden I was in the arena to see a concert by "The Who"...I must tell you, the Pope was better!

Early this evening, after leaving "Dora the Explorer Live" at Radio City Music Hall, my two year old daughter and myself went to St Pat's in a torrential downpour to light a candle and say a prayer for the Holy Father.

When I came home I pulled out the ticket stub from the 1979 Youth Concert I attended almost 26 years ago, still in perfect condition...I showed it to my wife and asked, "How much do you think I could get for this on EBay?" She replied, "a whole lot!"

It will never leave my house....

[luv2ndamend]

Rest in peace!

Those interested, here is what happens from death till election.
http://www.riehlworldview.com/carnivorous_conservative/2005/04/a_concise_overv.html
A Concise Overview Of Papal Funeral Rites And Transition

I am not a Catholic, yet the concept of Papal Transition interests me from the perspectives of History, religion, and general knowledge. Perhaps a bit inaccessible for some, including me, I sought to research and write a brief guide as to what to expect in the days ahead as the world prepares to mourn a man, great by any measure, humanistic, religious, political, or otherwise. Perhaps others will find it helpful as well.

Five links of much greater topical depth are located at the bottom of this review.

Jpiiteresa Upon the Pope's death a specific cardinal, who is also the prefect of the papal household, notifies the camerlengo, the highest-ranking cardinal who served the Pope in a manner similar to the way a Secretary of State would serve a US President.

The camerlengo and the College of Cardinals assume control of the Church during the “sede vacante,” or period of the vacant seat.

The camerlengo gently raps the pontiff's forehead with a silver mallet and calls the pope by his birth name three times. With no answer after the third time, the Pope is officially pronounced dead in the eyes of the church; however, prior to this, the Pope's personal physician has already pronounced him dead.

The camerlengo directs the issuance of a death certificate and removes the Ring of the Fisherman, worn ceremoniously by Popes for the last 800 years. The ring is gold with an image of St. Peter casting his net from a boat. It also contains that Pontiff's name and will be destroyed later by the cardinals.

Autopsies are not performed on popes and no one may film or photograph the pope's body (recording his last words is also prohibited). The camerlengo may, however, authorize a photograph for documentary purposes once the pope has been dressed in full papal garments.

The prefect of the papal household then informs the Dean of the College of Cardinals of the pope's death. It is the Dean's job to tell the other cardinals and then the heads of all the nations the news. Of course, when the current pope dies, most people will hear the news through the media well before this formal procedure is completed. All cardinals (most of whom are archbishops in their home country) are to come to Vatican City as soon as possible after hearing the news.

The Novemdiales

The College of Cardinals makes the funeral arrangements and for nine days (Novemdiales) Catholics observe a time of mourning and prayer. At St. Peter's, Swiss Guards lower their swords in mourning throughout. The Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (The Order of Service for the Burial of a Pontiff) and any additional instructions having been previously ordered by that Pope guide the ceremony.

The Papal Funeral

Dressed in papal vestments, two layers of white silk are then placed over the pope's head and hands before he is placed in a cypress coffin and also within two others - a middle coffin of lead engraved with the pope's name and the dates of his pontificate, the third or outside coffin is a simple unadorned coffin of elm.

With a closed coffin, the Pope rests in state for only a few days near the entrance of St. Peter's Basilica, though the funeral rites actually last for nine days. The Popes are buried in tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica and John Paul II has instructed that he be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death.

The General Congregations of Cardinals

One hundred and twenty elector cardinals, who are Bishops having been appointed by the Pope, elect a new Pope, which is their primary role within the Church. They, of course, do perform other functions during a Pope's reign. Cardinals must be of sound mind and under eighty years of age and vote in person to be eligible to vote. Not all Cardinals are elector cardinals. Currently there are 184 cardinals, 121 are eligible to vote. Of those, 68 were appointed by the current Pope and tend to agree with him on major issues.

Currently, the cardinals who are eligible to vote hail from 54 different countries around the world. Sixty cardinals are from Europe (two from the U.K.), 18 are from North America (11 from the U.S.), 18 are from Central and South America, 12 are from Africa, 11 are from Asia, and two are from Oceania (one from Australia and one from New Zealand).

After the Pope has passed, cardinals begin meeting daily; attendance is mandatory for elector cardinals and optional for those not voting. They meet over issues concerning the Papal funeral and the election of a new Pope. Per custom, John Paul II issued formal instructions for electing his successor and includes an oath for the Cardinals at their first meeting.

We, the Cardinals of Holy Roman Church, of the Order of Bishops, of Priests and of Deacons, promise, pledge and swear, as a body and individually, to observe exactly and faithfully all the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and to maintain rigorous secrecy with regard to all matters in any way related to the election of the Roman Pontiff or those which, by their very nature, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, call for the same secrecy.

Pope John Paul II also set instructions for what is to be accomplished next by the cardinals. These instructions included:

Arranging for the deceased Pope to be brought to the Vatican Basilica for the homage of the faithful.

Making necessary arrangements for the funeral rites ... between the fourth and sixth day after death.

Arranging suitable lodging for the cardinal electors, servants, doctors, priests, etc. and prepare the Sistine Chapel for a discreet election process.

Two ecclesiastics known for sound doctrine, wisdom and moral authority are tasked with presenting to the gathering two well-prepared meditations on the problems facing the present Church and on the need for careful discernment in choosing the new Pope.

They conduct church business, including paying expenses related to the funeral.

Read any designated documents left by the Pope for the College of Cardinals.

Arrange for the destruction of the Fisherman's Ring and of the lead seal with which Apostolic Letters are sealed and sent.

Assign rooms by lot to the cardinal electors.

And set the day and hour of the beginning of the voting process.

Conclave

Between 15 - 20 days after a pope's death, the College of Cardinals meets in conclave to elect a new pope. They are locked away and cut-off until they have elected a new pope. Cardinals are not permitted to have any contact with the outside world (no television, newspapers, letters, or phones) during the papal elections under pain of excommunication.

All cardinals are allowed entry into conclave, even those who do not vote. Each voting cardinal is also permitted to bring a secretary, a servant and a doctor, if ill. All those admitted into conclave that do not vote are sworn to secrecy and also sequestered.

Conclave takes place in the Sistine Chapel, a small room with the famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, of which Pope John Paul II said, "everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God."

Who Can Be Elected?

Any Catholic man in good standing can be elected pope but since 1522 it has been one of the cardinals. Of the nine 20th-century popes, their average age at the time of election was 65 years, with John XXIII the oldest at 76 and John Paul II the youngest at 58. The Italian word "papabile" means "pope-able," but such favorites as deemed so are often passed over leading to a saying, " "Go into conclave a pope; come out a cardinal."

The Voting Process

Keeping with tradition, Pope John Paul II established the following rules for electing his successor:

Maximum number of electors - 120.

A two-thirds-plus-one majority is required for election

Two votes are held in the morning and afternoon, for a total of four per day.

If a new pope is not selected after 12 to 13 days, the cardinals may choose to allow selection of a new pope by a simple majority.

The Balloting

Each cardinal is given a small rectangular ballot with the Latin words Eligo in Summum Pontificem, "I elect as supreme pontiff," printed at the top, he enters the name of his selection in pen below.

The ballot is folded twice, held high, and carried it to the Sistine Chapel's altar. He declares aloud,

"I call as my witness Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who before God I think should be elected."

The ballot is placed on a plate resting on a chalice; the plate is used to drop the ballot into the chalice. He bows and returns to his seat. The plate and chalice are the vessels used to serve the sacred bread and wine in Mass and the method discourages casting more than one ballot.

Counting the Votes

By lot, three scrutineers are chosen from among the electors at each new vote and they sit at a table and count the ballots. The first scrutineer uses the plate as a cover and shakes the chalice to mix the ballots. The third scrutineer then counts the votes without unfolding them. If the number of the ballots does not match the number of cardinals voting, all the ballots are immediately burned and the voting starts again.

If the right number of ballots has been received, the tallying procedure begins. The steps are as follows:

The first scrutineer takes a ballot, notes the name on it, and passes it to the second scrutineer.

The second scrutineer notes the name and passes it to the third scrutineer.

The third scrutineer reads aloud the name on the ballot, pierces the ballot with a needle through the word Eligo at the top of the ballot, and slides the ballot onto a string of thread.

Each elector notes the name that is read.

Once all ballots are read, the scrutineers write down the official count on a separate sheet of paper.

The third scrutineer ties the ends of the thread on which the ballots are placed in a knot to preserve the vote.

The ballots are placed in a receptacle.

After the vote, all the ballots and notes are burned.

If the proper majority has been reached and the elected person has accepted, white smoke appears above the Vatican to inform the world that a pope has been elected. If a pope has not been elected, water or a chemical is added to the ballots so that black smoke appears. The vote is repeated for as long as it takes until a pope has been elected. In 1978, Pope John Paul II was elected after eight ballots over two days.

A New Name

When someone is elected, the Cardinal Dean asks the pope-elect (1) whether he accepts the nomination and (2) by what name he wishes to be known. If he accepts, his pontificate begins at that moment and will continue until resignation or death.

For centuries it has been customary for newly elected popes to take a new name. This began with the election of Pope John II in 533, whose birth name was Mercurius. Mercurius felt it would be wrong for a successor of St. Peter to bear the name of a pagan god (Mercury), so he changed his name to honor a previous pope. In 983, another pope took the name John XIV because his given name was Peter, and reverence for the first pope precluded his becoming Peter II. Some early non-Italian popes chose names that were easier for Italians to pronounce. Since the 10th century, nearly all newly elected popes have taken new names.

The pope's new name symbolizes the new life he enters into upon assuming the throne. It also imitates the renaming of St. Peter (originally named Simon) by Jesus himself. The name chosen by a newly elected pope is usually that of a saint or an admired previous pope. Pope John Paul II, who was born Karol Józef Wojtyla ("voh-TEE-wah"), chose the name John Paul II to honor the previous pope, John Paul. John Paul I, whose pontificate lasted only 33 days before he died, had chosen his name in honor two previous popes, Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI.

The New Pope

Having accepted and chosen a name, the new Pope dons the papal vestments, a skull cap and white soutane. (The Italian family business that makes the papal vestments will have different sizes prepared in advance.) Each cardinal in turn pays homage to the new pope.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals then steps onto the main balcony of the Vatican and declares, Habemus Papam! "We have a Pope!" His Holiness then appears on the balcony and delivers an Apostolic Blessing. After his election in 1978, Pope John Paul II broke the tradition of speaking only the Blessing, adding the following:

Praise be Jesus Christ! Dear brothers and sisters, we are all still grieved after the death of our most beloved John Paul I. And now the eminent cardinals have called a new Bishop of Rome. They have called him from a far country [Poland]: far, but always near through the communion of faith and in the Christian tradition. I was afraid to receive this nomination, but I did it in the spirit of obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ and in total confidence in his Mother, the most holy Madonna.

I don't know if I can make myself clear in your -- in our -- Italian language. If I make a mistake, you will correct me. And so I present myself to you all, to confess our common faith, our hope, our trust in the Mother of Christ and of the Church, and also to start anew on this road of history and the Church, with the help of God and with the help of men.

The installation or "Coronation of the Pope," is held in St. Peter's Basilica. After the Lord's Prayer, cardinals individually express homage to the new pope. They recite their homage, receive the pope's embrace and exchange the Kiss of Peace.

Speed of Thought has a nice round up of Pope John Paul's significant accomplishments. He was an amazing man.

For topical reading with much more depth please see here, here, here, here, and here.

Update: I've seen references that claim the use of a small hammer to tap the Pope's head while calling his name three times to verify his death is a myth. Looking into it, it is not so much a myth, as a relatively recently abandoned practice. Below are three quotes with sources for this information.

Traditions do change, just as recent Popes have abandoned being carried overhead in a throne at the Coronation.

American Catholic, where an editor viewed said hammer in a church related museum: Assistant Editor Susan Hines-Brigger remembers the ceremonial hammer to strike the pope’s forehead to confirm his death. “It reinforced for me the importance of ceremony associated with the papacy. Still, it seemed a bit harsh to strike someone on the head not once, but three times, to make sure he was dead.” (This hammer has not been used since Blessed John XXIII died in 1963.)

American Magazine: As late as 1903, at the death of Leo XIII, this was done by striking the forehead of the pope with a silver hammer. It may also have been used on John XXIII. One colleague remembers a picture in Life magazine (which I have not had time to look for) in 1958 showing Cardinal Tisserant, then Dean of the College of Cardinals, striking the dead Pope on the forehead and asking, three times, "Eugenio, are you dead?" after each stroke, before saying: "I declare that His Holiness Pope Pius XII is truly dead".

The Tablet: The custom of striking the forehead of the pope with a silver hammer to confirm his death lasted into the 20th century but is no longer followed. No autopsy is performed.

[Mo1]

Off Topic
But I am sitting here listening to Chris Matthews
IMO .. He really needs to put a sock in it
He is a disgrace

[maica]

That hymn was sung at our Mass tonight.

*Be Not Afraid*

[eastsider]

kagw de soi legw oti
su ei petros kai epi tauth th petra oikodomhsw mou thn ekklhsian
kai pulai adou ou katiscusousin auths
dwsw soi tas kleidas ths basileias twn ouranwn

[Tar Heel Bushie]

What a man! We were so lucky to have had him on this earth for as long as we did. I'm sure Our Lady personally escorted him to heaven.

Totus Tuus!

[HighlyOpinionated]

(1) Psalm. Dawidowy. Pan jest moim pasterzem, nie brak mi niczego.
(2) Pozwala mi le¿eæ na zielonych pastwiskach. Prowadzi mnie nad wody, gdzie mogê odpocz¹æ:
(3) orzeŸwia moj¹ duszê. Wiedzie mnie po w³aœciwych œcie¿kach przez wzgl¹d na swoje imiê.
(4) Chocia¿bym chodzi³ ciemn¹ dolin¹, z³a siê nie ulêknê, bo Ty jesteœ ze mn¹. Twój kij i Twoja laska s¹ tym, co mnie pociesza.
(5) Stó³ dla mnie zastawiasz wobec mych przeciwników; namaszczasz mi g³owê olejkiem; mój kielich jest przeobfity.
(6) Tak, dobroæ i ³aska pójd¹ w œlad za mn¹ przez wszystkie dni mego ¿ycia i zamieszkam w domu Pañskim po najd³u¿sze czasy.

(Ks.Psalmów 23:1-6)

[jbarkley]

I could use some help. I have to say something to my Catechism students on Tuesday about the passing of the Pope.

I was going to begin with a Hail Mary, but any ideas of what else I could do would be helpful. These are 4th graders who have just gone through First Reconcilliation.

[virgil]

I don't know what happened to the church bells in this country. I haven't heard a church bell in years.