Pope writes of his death, rules out resignation in epic poem

smh ^

[chance33_98]

Pope writes of his death, rules out resignation in epic poem

March 7 2003

Pope John Paul has written about his own death for the first time and indirectly ruled out his resignation in a three-part epic poem published yesterday.

In the work, entitled Roman Triptych, he wrote that the next papal election would take place after his death.

Meditating on the role he has played for the past 25 years, since being elected to the highest power in the Catholic church on October 16, 1978, he wrote: "And so it will be again, when it becomes necessary, after my death."

On his own death, the seriously ill 82-year-old pontiff wrote: "That which was well-formed, will be misshapen-shapen. That which was alive - is now lifeless. That, which was beautiful - is now ugly desolation. I do not die completely, when that which is in me lasts on indestructibly."

In the 11-page work, which is written in parts in prose and in parts in verse, the pope also meditates on present-day Iraq, the ancient homeland of Abraham.

However, he did not go into the looming threat of war.

Translation of excerpts of papal poetry

Excerpts from the official English translation of Pope John Paul's Roman Tryptich.

Part I The Stream

What are you saying to me, mountain stream? Where, in which place, do we meet? Do you meet me who is also passing - just like you. ... If you want to find the source, you have to go up, against the current, tear through, seek, don't give up, you know it must be somewhere here. Where are you, source? Where are you, source?!

Part II Meditations on the Book of Genesis At the threshold of the Sistine Chapel

Those to whom the care of the legacy of the keys has been entrusted gather here, allowing themselves to be enfolded by the Sistine's colours, by the vision left to us by Michelangelo - so it was in August, and then in October, of the memorable year of the two Conclaves, and so it will be again, when the need arises after my death.

Fulfillment - Apocalypsis

The End is as invisible as the Beginning.

The universe emerged from the Word, and returns to the Word.

Right at the heart of the Sistine Chapel, the artist shows this invisible End

in the visible drama of the Judgment -

And this invisible End became visible as the highpoint of clarity:

ominia nuda et aperta ante oculos Eius.

The words recorded by Matthew, here become the painter's vision:

"Come, you who are blessed ... depart from me, you accursed" ...

And so the generations pass - naked they come into the world and naked they return to the earth from which they were formed.

"From dust you came, and to dust you shall return"; all that had shape into shapelessness.

What was alive is now dead;

all that was beautiful is now the ugliness of devastation.

And yet I do not altogether die,

what is indestructible in me remains!

(From the Latin: Everything is disclosed and revealed before his eyes.)

[AD from SpringBay]

If I may be so bold - the Baptist preachers I know understand that the only time they are infallible is when they are reading the Bible.

[gcruse]

And yet it is still infallible - whatever he says. AMAZING!


No, no.  It's a MIRACLE!

[potlatch]

You voiced my opinion exactly! I honestly think that he hasn't always been told everything.

[potlatch]

You misunderstand!! The Pope is only considered 'infallible' in matters concerning the Dogma, or teachings of the church. Not in every day matters.

[irish guard]

The Catholic Church is filled with many wonderful priests and just like any other organization it also has political lobbyists who are self promoters. The biggest mistake the Church made was failing to publicly admonish the offenders. Short of murder, I cannot imagin anything more despicable than to molest a child. The Church brought this on itself by allowing some homosexual priests into the priesthood. (notice I said some) They dropped their screening standards, perhaps because their numbers were declining. In any event, instead of chastizing the offenders, we go that namby pamby.......politically correct nonsense from the hierarchy telling us to forgive the offenders....or worse, some Bishops (Milwaukee's) and Cardinals were themselves offenders or hiders of the truth. In any event, I believe the Pope was not told of these offenses or was told it was not as widespread as it is/was.

[Consort]

Becoming the next Pope is Bill Clinton's second choice right after UN Secretary General.

[Desdemona]

JPII ping

[potlatch]

A few bad apples started distroying the rest over the years, so to speak!

[1rudeboy]

Let me know when the Pope endorses Peace - with Freedom!!!! - or renounces socialist denunciations of capitalism.

I'll be sure to let you know the moment he runs for political office.

[kcar]

I pretty much don't try to hide my "bigotry" as you call it - or my rational rejection of cathechism - as I call it. I rejected this stuff from the Baltimoron Cathechism in my days of youth, in preference to those less encumbered by physical ritual and more by rational belief.
When somewhen thinks they're infallible, thats when I jud gotta know a little more info about the whole nature of that discussion. Somewhere, somehow, I think that means someone is taking the Lord's veins in name.

[gcruse]

I wonder who came up with Liberation Theology, ie, people are better off living under communism?

[1rudeboy]

Duh, the Pope?

[Cicero]

I had the good fortune to have lunch with Czeslaw Milosz a few years ago and listen to him read some of his recent poetry. Our organization gave him a lifetime achievement award and he most graciously accepted our invitation. He is a truly remarkable man and a great poet.

I agree with you that the Pope is also a fine poet. He also wrote a fascinating play in his earlier life. These bits of poetry quoted in the article are in translation, and they are only brief extracts, but even at that they seem impressive to me.

[Our man in washington]

Why would he want to be Pope? Did someone tell him he'd have women kneeling and asking what they need to for pennance?

[gcruse]

You think?

The general tenor of the pronouncements of the magisterium, whether papal or coming from the Synod of Bishops, has been to recognize the positive aspects of liberation theology, especially with reference to the poor and the need for their liberation, as forming put of the universal heritage of Christian commitment to history. Criticisms of certain tendencies within liberation theology, which have to be taken into account, do not negate the vigorous and healthy nucleus of this form of Christian thinking, which has done so much to bring the message of the historical Jesus to the world of today.

[nmh]

"And yet it is still infallible - whatever he says. AMAZING!

Yup, just amazing! Here I thought Jesus Christ was the only infallible person. Guess Jesus didn't die for him. Seriously, this pope is nuts.

[Arthur McGowan]

You falsely described the Catholic belief in Papal Infallibility. You were dishonest about it.

So which is it? 1) you rationally reject the actual teachings of the Catholic Church; or 2) you lie about them so as to make them seem more implausible to others.

On this thread, you've been practicing #2.

[1rudeboy]

I take it from your formatting that those are your words, and not those of Mssrs. Boff. I take it from a quick perusal of your link that you have no idea what you are talking about.

[nmh]

"You misunderstand!! The Pope is only considered 'infallible' in matters concerning the Dogma, or teachings of the church. Not in every day matters."
<p.Get real. Whether it be with the homosexual priest issue, the Crusades or "church teachings" which instigated these blunders, this guy or any other pope is far from infallible. It's absurd to even suggest it; much less believe it.

[gcruse]

If they were my words, I would not have provided a link. And I don't know the history of LT, which is why I googled it and came up with that. It sure looks like LT had a return address of the Vatican.