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Cardinal: Pope in "a bad way"
Reuters/Fox News ^
Posted on 09/30/2003 7:15:09 AM PDT by Dog
German Cardinal Says Pope 'In a Very Bad Way' Tue September 30, 2003 08:23 AM ET BERLIN (Reuters) - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the German head of the Vatican body which oversees doctrinal matters, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Pope John Paul was in very poor health and the faithful should pray for him. "He is in a very bad way," Ratzinger told Germany's Bunte magazine in an interview. "We should pray for the pope."
Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the magazine that the 83-year-old pope had taken on too much, but he was unable to stop him.
The increasingly frail pope was particularly weak earlier this month on a trip to Slovakia and needed help reading his sermons. Last week, he skipped his general audience because of what the Vatican said was an intestinal problem.
Ratzinger's private secretary, Georg Gaenswein, said it was amazing how the pope, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, kept going.
"He can't walk and stand anymore but he is a hero for the faithful. The fact that he doesn't give up despite his illness makes him even more credible," Gaenswein told Bunte.
He said the pope would not give up traveling. "When he is no longer allowed to travel, then dear God will come for him," Gaenswein said.
The leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, who marks his 25th anniversary next month, appointed 31 new cardinals on Sunday, possibly putting his last stamp on the group that will one day choose his successor.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News
KEYWORDS: biggotry; catholic; catholicchurch; catholicism; catholiclist; dogma; johnpaul; nobel; nobelprize; pax; peace; pope; popejohnpaul; rc; rcc; romanempire; rome; snakehandling; vatican
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This is breaking on Fox...
1
posted on
09/30/2003 7:15:09 AM PDT
by
Dog
To: Dog
God bless the Holy Father.
2
posted on
09/30/2003 7:15:58 AM PDT
by
Coop
(God bless our troops!)
To: Dog
Ratzinger is one of the Pope's closest advisors...
3
posted on
09/30/2003 7:16:05 AM PDT
by
Dog
(This wednesday is my birthday and I officially become older than dirt....)
To: Coop
Amen..
4
posted on
09/30/2003 7:16:29 AM PDT
by
Dog
(This wednesday is my birthday and I officially become older than dirt....)
To: xsmommy
ping.
5
posted on
09/30/2003 7:18:45 AM PDT
by
hobbes1
( Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
To: hobbes1
just saw it, thanks.
6
posted on
09/30/2003 7:19:20 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
'The pope is in really bad shape'
September 30 2003 at 04:04AM
By Peter Popham
Rome - Pope John Paul II is the hottest tip as winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize to be announced in 10 days' time, but there are major fears for his health.
His appointment of 31 new cardinals on Sunday is being taken as a clear sign that his days are numbered, according to a Vatican insider.
The 83-year-old pontiff's health has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. He has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for a decade, and speculation last week that he now also has cancer of the intestines has not been denied.
The director of the independent Peace Research Institute in Oslo said he believed the pope was the most likely Nobel winner, even though he thought the committee wanted a Muslim winner.
'No Muslim candidate sent a message of peace in Iraq to the same degree'
"No Muslim candidate sent a message of peace in Iraq to the same degree as the pope."
The pope was a staunch, often fiery opponent of the war. Despite his poor health, he mounted a sustained diplomatic campaign of resistance, sending envoys to both Baghdad and Washington.
Rumours of the Nobel award came one day after the pope made arrangements for what one insider called his "final sprint".
The decision to hold a consistory next month instead of in February as planned was interpreted by Vatican observers as a clear sign that John Paul knows his time is running out. A consistory is the process during which the appointment of new cardinals - the "princes" of the Catholic Church - is confirmed.
It is the conclave of cardinals, meeting a fortnight after a pope's death, that chooses the successor to St Peter's throne.
'The pope is reaching the end of the road'
An Italian Vatican expert wrote on Monday that the decision to hold the consistory four months ahead of schedule was strongly rumoured to have been at the insistence of the pope himself.
One of the newly appointed cardinals, Archbishop Phillippe Barbarin, of Lyons, France, told Europe 1 Radio on Monday: "The pope is reaching the end of the road. It's a big responsibility for us. The pope is in really bad shape."
He has forced himself forward through many years of his failing health by giving himself new goals.
The major milestones next month - his own jubilee and the beatification of Mother Teresa - may have given him the will to continue thus far.
Thus far, but perhaps no further.
This article was originally published on page 1 of The Star on September 30, 2003
7
posted on
09/30/2003 7:19:58 AM PDT
by
alisasny
To: alisasny
that makes me very sad.
8
posted on
09/30/2003 7:21:52 AM PDT
by
xsmommy
To: xsmommy
Most catholics alive today, have nothing but vague memories of anybody but John Paul II as pope. There are adults now who were born after he took office. His eventual passing will profoundly affect the church.
9
posted on
09/30/2003 7:23:08 AM PDT
by
dogbyte12
To: Dog
I was able to see the Pope in Italy at his weekly Wednesday audience on September 3rd. He looked bad, but even as a protestant, I was touched by the love of God in his words. It was a very touching moment for me. I pray for him and that God will take him according to His plan.
10
posted on
09/30/2003 7:33:48 AM PDT
by
TexasGunLover
("Either you're with us or you're with the terrorists."-- President George W. Bush)
To: Dog
It will be very intersting to see who his successor will be. Pope John Paul II is a very good man, amazing how he has held on the way he has in spite of his fragile health. God bless him.
11
posted on
09/30/2003 7:34:06 AM PDT
by
Delbert
To: Dog
May God bless this Pope, and comfort him in his time of illness.
And may God guide the College of Cardinals to allow God to work through them, and elect as good and Godly a Pope as this one has been, to serve as the successor of the Fisherman.
12
posted on
09/30/2003 7:34:27 AM PDT
by
Malacoda
To: dogbyte12
I respect the Pope emensely even though I am a Baptist. The man is an authority for principal and morals. When his time is up, God will take him home as he is a faithful servent to his Kingdom. May Christs love continue to spread across the globe.
13
posted on
09/30/2003 7:34:56 AM PDT
by
smith288
("The key to our success will be your execution." -Scott Adams)
To: Dog
I am not Catholic but I ,too respect the Pope as a good and godly man.May God be with him always.
14
posted on
09/30/2003 7:41:33 AM PDT
by
MEG33
To: Dog
May God bless him and take him to Himself when it is time.
Cardinal Ratzinger has been a faithful friend and right-hand man to the Pope. He too is getting old and would have retired if it were not for his sense of duty.
God bless them both, and may the next Pope be faithful too. The Church and the world need it.
15
posted on
09/30/2003 7:42:41 AM PDT
by
Cicero
(Marcus Tullius)
To: Dog
16
posted on
09/30/2003 7:49:00 AM PDT
by
Int
(Ever notice how the Freepers that have been here longest are the most 'moderate'?)
To: MEG33
To all of you who are not Catholic but have posted such kind words: God bless you and thank you for your charity toward my pastor, John Paul.
To: Dog; newgeezer
He is the most Marian pope they've had in a long time. I wonder if the next one will be more so.
18
posted on
09/30/2003 7:53:48 AM PDT
by
biblewonk
(Spose to be a Chrisssssssstian)
To: Cicero
***God bless them both, and may the next Pope be faithful too. The Church and the world need it.***
There are those who seek to destroy the Church and all religion. Prayers are desperately needed that the College of Cardinals choose a new Pope who will refute the liberals among them.
19
posted on
09/30/2003 7:54:04 AM PDT
by
kitkat
To: Dog
I could have sworn that I heard on the radio news the other day that the Pope delivered a sermon and he sounded a lot stronger than he has in the recent past.
20
posted on
09/30/2003 7:54:33 AM PDT
by
jmc813
(How ironic is it that Arnold turned out to be the spoiler?)
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