Pope Nearly Dead?

eth0_ · 01-04-2005 12:51AM

I just hope that perhaps the next pope will bring in a rule that allowes Popes to retire....it's really disgusted me how that poor man has been wheeled out to deliver blessings and travel the world when he's clearly just about to pop his cloggs.

I'm not religious at all but I find the whole thing very sad :-/

01-04-2005 12:54AM

eth0_ wrote:

I just hope that perhaps the next pope will bring in a rule that allowes Popes to retire

The pope is allowed to retire. Thats been discussed many times on the news before.

aidan_walsh · 01-04-2005 12:55AM

eth0_ wrote:

I just hope that perhaps the next pope will bring in a rule that allowes Popes to retire....it's really disgusted me how that poor man has been wheeled out to deliver blessings and travel the world when he's clearly just about to pop his cloggs.

He is allowed to, but so far has refused.

is_that_so · 01-04-2005 12:56AM

eth0_ wrote:

I just hope that perhaps the next pope will bring in a rule that allowes Popes to retire....it's really disgusted me how that poor man has been wheeled out to deliver blessings and travel the world when he's clearly just about to pop his cloggs.

I'm not religious at all but I find the whole thing very sad :-/

Yep agree with you. There is precedent for it and it can be done but the problem of it goes back to the schism of the 14th century when they ended up with two popes for a bit and it led to a few wars. Question is who do people follow if one is retired as the Pope is infallible ?

Capt'n Midnight · 01-04-2005 01:05AM

is_that_so wrote:

as the Pope is infallible ?

Only on matters of religious doctern and only when specfically usining papel infalliblity gathering card and it doesn't happen often (last case was the immaclate conception ?) and it's only because of a small minority in a vote in 1890 or somesuch

jezza · 01-04-2005 01:12AM

is this an april fool??

Tusky · 01-04-2005 01:18AM

jezza wrote:

is this an april fool??

No, turn on the news..

aidan_walsh · 01-04-2005 01:21AM

jezza wrote:

is this an april fool??

CNN wrote:

VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Pope John Paul II's condition remained "serious" early Friday, but he appeared to be responding well to antibiotic treatment for a urinary tract infection that caused him to develop a fever, a Vatican official said.

Thursday night, as his health deteriorated, the pontiff was given the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church, a Vatican source told CNN.

The sacrament does not necessarily mean that the pope is dying. Last rites -- also known as the sacrament of the sick or extreme unction -- are commonly given to people who are seriously ill as well.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/31/pope1/index.html

Lump · 01-04-2005 01:48AM

gamut isn't the word i'm thinking of

Gamut = Chroma/Hue....

John

Mimikyu · 01-04-2005 01:59AM

This post has been deleted.

elivsvonchiaing · 01-04-2005 02:03AM

Hmm by the sound of it he could go any minute... but reckon he'll last through April anyhow. He has serious determination. Reckon this was his last Easter though... but who knows?

Mimikyu · 01-04-2005 02:08AM

This post has been deleted.

markwhite · 01-04-2005 02:09AM

smccarrick wrote:

Last Rites is a common but misleading term; the Anointing of the Sick can be received as often as the believer desires and should not be postponed until death is thought to be near, nor is its administration intended to imply an expectation that the recipient is about to die. At one time in history, the sacrament was reserved until death was believed to be imminent, in order to reduce the possibility of the sick person committing further sins after its administration. However, since the Second Vatican Council this is no longer the case.

Also- the Vatican has announced that there are no plans to transfer him to hospital- read what you will into that.

He may be around quite some time yet, regardless of people's beliefs, the pope is a good man and most people will be sad to see him go when he finally does.

waaaay too much information for my eyes!

billy the squid · 01-04-2005 02:13AM

they administer that annointing of the sick all the time in knock basilica. and no doubt in many other prestigeous catholic churches and basilicae (if that is the right plural.)

billy the squid · 01-04-2005 06:20AM

BBC five live just reporting that the pope has had some sort of heart attack!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4399189.stm

Pope John Paul II has suffered a cardiac arrest and is in a grave condition, the Vatican has announced.

Ba_barbaraAnne · 01-04-2005 07:30AM

billy the squid wrote:

BBC five live just reporting that the pope has had some sort of heart attack!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4399189.stm

"This morning the condition of the Holy Father is very serious," the statement said, but the 84-year-old pontiff remained "conscious, lucid and tranquil".

The Pope has decided not to return to Rome's Gemelli hospital - but is being treated in his apartment by his private doctor Renato Buzzetti.

The great man seems to be accepting that his death is imminent. He was crying on tv on Sunday as if he knew it was his last time to bless his people. It is very sad.

misswex · 01-04-2005 09:04AM

Lets just hope that if He is going to die that He will die peacefully!!

hshortt · 01-04-2005 09:11AM

misswex wrote:

Lets just hope that if He is going to die that He will die peacefully!!

Amen

TheMonster · 01-04-2005 09:30AM

I know he can retire(or whatever the official word is) but has refused but shouldn't the highest cardinals have the power to decide if hes not fit to be in office.

stevenmu · 01-04-2005 10:15AM

TheMonster wrote:

I know he can retire(or whatever the official word is) but has refused but shouldn't the highest cardinals have the power to decide if hes not fit to be in office.

I'm not a catholic but from what I remember in school, it supposedly God (working through the cardinals) that decides who becomes Pope. As such only God can decide when a pope should leave.

DrIndy · 01-04-2005 10:20AM

I'm sorry he's passing away.

John Paul II was the first non-italian pope since the middle ages and did a tremendous amount in reforming the catholic church to the 20th century. He also made attempts to heal old divides with Islam, Judaism and also Orthodox religions. Anyone remember him at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, adding his prayer message like Jews do?

People fairly criticise the catholic church for not moving as fast as society has moved in the last few decades, but he certainly made a big effort.

His polish roots also had a great effect in galvanising the catholics in eastern Europe which contributed to the fall of communism IMO.

He also kissed the ground of poland when he returned there after a long absence, but since he is the pope, he subsequently had to do that to every country he visited thereafter!

His successor has big shoes to fill.

GuanYin · 01-04-2005 10:54AM

[edit]

Actually, I'll be more serious about this.

I think its a total disgrace that he was put in the situation he is in now.

Its little more than geriatric abuse and despite vatican reports, the man could barely talk or stay awake.

Putting him in front of thousands on a regular basis was wrong and disgusting.

I hardly see how his last years could be deemed, passing gracefully.

[/edit]

What special time and special day, It's Woodland Critter Christmas, Haaaail Satan!

kenmc · 01-04-2005 11:42AM

I don't know too much about him, for such a supposedly important man. Even though I was born a catholic, I have not believed in any god for many years. So to me this is just akin to there being a deathwatch on any celebrity - to me he's no more than that - some one who's famous, like a king i guess more so than a pop star. From what I know of the church though he is responsible for it still being "against the rules" to use contraception etc, and there being no women priests and no married priests etc, which is a bit rediculous in this day and age. Maybe they'll vote in some new radical who can do something modern. Will be interesting to see how the whole pope-vote works though after reading "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown....

Evilution · 01-04-2005 12:09PM

ColHol wrote:

God thats a pretty ignorant view to have, no offence

Irony, Colhol??

Evilution · 01-04-2005 12:15PM

L5 wrote:

:rolleyes:

you muppet

Get stuffed. Its the fault of the catholic church. And the pope, if the news that he won't step down is to be believed. The catholic church is in tatters and their leader is incapable of leading. And what do they do? Put the current pontiff somewhere where he can live out his last few days in peace?? No, they don't; instead he's paraded out to windows in a hospital or the vatican where he can give a feeble wave to the assembled mass of people. So thats leading the church, is it? No, thats pathetic and a new pope should be elected at this stage. This just proves how archaic and out of touch the catholic church is.

TheMonster · 01-04-2005 12:16PM

stevenmu wrote:

I'm not a catholic but from what I remember in school, it supposedly God (working through the cardinals) that decides who becomes Pope. As such only God can decide when a pope should leave.

Neither am I a catholic but if God can work throught the cardinals and apoint a pope can he not decide through them when its time to go. In all honesty has he actually provided any function over the last 12 months?

Pope Nearly Dead?

Comments