| inu-liger 01.04.2005 03:32 |
The condition of Pope John Paul II deteriorated drastically on Friday after the leader of the Catholic Church suffered a heart attack late on Thursday night. Vatican officials gave the pope the communion for the dying. Pope John Paul II is struggling between life and death after suffering a heart attack, the Vatican said Friday after the pontiff's condition deteriorated dramatically and he received communion for the dying. "This morning the health of the Holy Father is very serious," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said. "Following a urinary tract infection, a septic shock with a cardio-circulatory collapse occurred." The 84-year-old pontiff is "conscious, lucid and serene. At 19:17 CET on Thursday he received the Saint Viaticum," the spokesman said, referring to the rites administered to the ill when approaching death. The pope was immediately given "the appropriate cardio-respiratory assistance," he said. It was not clear if the pope had been connected to a life-support machine. It was highly unusual for the Vatican to reveal such details of the pope's condition, a signal that it was preparing the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics for the demise of John Paul II. The Polish-born pope is being treated by medical staff at the Vatican and refused to return to Rome's Gemelli clinic where he was hospitalized twice in the past two months. "The Holy Father's wish to remain in his home was respected, where complete and efficient medical assistance was assured," said the spokesman. Confusion reigns as pope's condition worsens The statement came after a dramatic night in which conflicting reports emerged on the pope's condition, with the Vatican Radio saying his condition had stabilized while some Italian televisions reported him on his deathbed. As news of the pope's crisis spread, hundreds of followers gathered near the Vatican, some praying, some crying. Authorities had sealed off St. Peter's square but the faithful filled the surrounding streets. "I am scared that that's it ... maybe he's dead, maybe he's dying," said Jennifer Cole of Los Angeles in tears. "It doesn't matter if he's already dead; I wanted to be here anyway." The Vatican admitted Wednesday that the pope was making a "slow" recovery following a throat operation on February 24 and had to be fed through a nasal tube. Vatican sources said the pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, had lost some 19 kilograms (42 pounds) since his operation. The pope reportedly has insisted that he wants to die at the Vatican. Last wish is to die at home "It was the last wish of Pope John Paul II: to not die ... in the entrance hall of a hospital, but to end his days in dignity as a Roman pontiff, in his room overlooking St. Peter's," daily La Repubblica wrote Friday. Other Italian newspapers were filled with gloom. "The pope is dying" headlined daily Il Giornale. Libero daily wrote: "The pope can't make it." Italian Cardinal Achille Silvestrini underlined Friday that the previous day's announcement by the Vatican -- which usually refrains from making alarming statements -- "means that there is really a lot of fear and that maybe they want us to understand to prepare for the worst." Concerns raised over Vatican power vacuum In an ominous sign, the lights of the pope's apartment were turned on and later switched off and only the lights of the papal infirmary were on early Friday. The sickness of the pope, who appeared visibly thinner and frail in his last appearance at his window on Wednesday, has raised concerns of a power vacuum at the top of the Church. Some observers have reported that the close circle of cardinals around the pope have made "a pact" to maintain the status quo as uncertainty over his heal |
| XcessQueen 01.04.2005 09:07 |
:( |
| Mr.Jingles 01.04.2005 09:10 |
WASHINGTON (AFP) - George W. Bush has announced the nomination of evangelist leader Jerry Falwell to become the new pope. "It's time for catholics to allow non-catholic christian leaders to have high positions on the church", said the President. George W. Bush also announced that in case of having Jerry Falwell's nomination declined, he will take extreme measurements to make him the new pope, by starting an economic embargo against the Vatican, and the posibility of an invasion. |
| SergeantPepperDG 01.04.2005 09:59 |
Aww... I like the pope. I thought it was so cool when I was little that he wore a yarmulke! |
| Mr.Jingles 01.04.2005 10:14 |
I remember back in 1986 when I lived in Colombia the pope came to visit the country. There were between 1.5 and 2 million people all across the Bogota's major highway waiting for the pope to drive by. I have to say that I've never seen so much euphoria over watching an old man saluting a crowd. After the popemobile drove by it was like... OK, EVERYBODY YOU'VE SEEN THE POPE, NOW GO HOME! |
| Lisser 01.04.2005 10:41 |
<b><font color = "crimson">ThomasQuinn wrote:How is he responsible for that?SergeantPepperDG wrote: Aww... I like the pope. I thought it was so cool when I was little that he wore a yarmulke!The thought that he is solely responsible for tens of thousands of AIDS-dead didn't cross your mind, I suppose? |
| Haystacks Calhoun 01.04.2005 10:46 |
I'd make one whale of a Pope, however that would mean having to brush up on my Languages.... Is the Pope allowed to say dirty words? Plus, I would take the Pope-Mobile to "Pimp My Ride". |
| FriedChicken 01.04.2005 10:51 |
April Fools? :D |
| Mr.Jingles 01.04.2005 11:01 |
Lisser wrote:Just because the pope tells you not to use a condom doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.<b><font color = "crimson">ThomasQuinn wrote:How is he responsible for that?SergeantPepperDG wrote: Aww... I like the pope. I thought it was so cool when I was little that he wore a yarmulke!The thought that he is solely responsible for tens of thousands of AIDS-dead didn't cross your mind, I suppose? After all, the Catholic church is in a current position where they can no longer have complete control on the politics and mentallity of people from different catholic countries regardless of their religious majority. There's a certain degree of influence on some nations but as time goes by the gap between the separation of church and state becomes wider. Issues that the Catholic church strongly oposses like abortion and pre-marital sex are still very commonly practiced by people who were raised catholic. |
| Mr.Jingles 01.04.2005 11:05 |
Buddy Biancalana wrote: Plus, I would take the Pope-Mobile to "Pimp My Ride".LMAO Imagine the PopeMobile with rims, a Playstation, a DVD player, a flat screen TV, and huge speakers blasting hip-hop. |
| deleted user 01.04.2005 11:19 |
you forgot the fluffy dice and model of the vigin mary on the dashboard Mr J ! |
| Mr.Jingles 01.04.2005 11:22 |
Dracula wrote: you forgot the fluffy dice and model of the vigin mary on the dashboard Mr J !Ahhh, how about a bobblehead Jesus? Just like this one... link |
| Saint Jiub 01.04.2005 13:02 |
Mr.Jingles79 wrote: WASHINGTON (AFP) - George W. Bush has announced the nomination of evangelist leader Jerry Falwell to become the new pope. "It's time for catholics to allow non-catholic christian leaders to have high positions on the church", said the President. George W. Bush also announced that in case of having Jerry Falwell's nomination declined, he will take extreme measurements to make him the new pope, by starting an economic embargo against the Vatican, and the posibility of an invasion.This would be perfect - Doesn't jerry Falwell have grave health issues to or am I thinking of another dying lunatic preacher? |
| Haystacks Calhoun 01.04.2005 13:16 |
Will the Pope come throught the Pearly Gates just like everyone else, or does he have a special "Pope" entrance? Will he get to keep the Pope-mobile when he gets there? |
| deleted user 01.04.2005 14:06 |
re bobbleheaded Jesus - that is such a tasteful , piece of merchandising and not in the least tacky .........ROFL |