Vatican Denies Media Reports Pope Has Died
Reuters - 3 minutes ago
The Vatican denied on Friday reports in some Italian media that Pope John Paul had died.

5 minutes ago
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican denied on Friday reports in some Italian media that Pope John Paul had died.
"It is not true that the Pope is dead and there is no truth that his electro-encephalogram is flat because there is no such machine in the papal apartments," a Vatican official said.

When, in a Christian context, one refers simply to "Mary," the assumption is that one is referring to Mary, the Mother of Christ (aka, the "Blessed Virgin"). Given the whore/prostitute reference, I'll assume you meant Mary Magdalene instead. While it is certainly true that Mary Magdalene has historically been conflated in popular opinion and by many theologians with two other women in the Gospels -- one of whom is idenfitied as a "sinner" -- to say that popes in the past looked at her as a prostitute and looked down at women in general is a rather Dan Brownesque overgeneralization, not to mention a sidestepping of Mary Magdalene's role in the Easter story.

Folks... His Holiness ain't dead yet. It ain't official until the Cardinal Camerlengo goes up to the Pope's deathbed and addresses him using his baptismal name three times:

"Karol Josef Wojtyla, are you awake?"

After that, then the papal ring is removed and defaced, and the papal apartments are sealed.

The deathwatch continues...

Sadly, I think there will be conflicting reports for as long as this goes. Everyone will want to be the first to report any change in condition.

Supposedly, the apartments will not be sealed this time. The historical reason for this is so that no one could make off with the pope's important papers. But according to reports, JPII has made arrangements for his papers to be kept secured while his aides continue to work in his apartment until after his funeral.

Doesn't the Cardinal do this only after a doctor pronounces him dead? Because I've taken care of mulitple septic shock patients who aren't officially dead yet, but couldn't respond to you calling their name.

Ok, I forgot to post the rest of my post! (Sleep deprived)

I'm very sad about this. This is the only pope I've known. When my husband and I went to Italy for our honeymoon, we went to the audiences that the pope used to do every Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, and heard him speak. We also got his blessing; he blesses the crowd in every language he speaks. It meant so much to me because we had just gotten married, and I felt like, our marriage was blessed ( I know that sounds cheesy, but oh well). I'm very very :( .

According to NPR this morning, you are correct.

I highly doubt that I'm the only non-Catholic who recognizes that the passing of John Paul II will be of great historic importance. He has brought his church into the 21st century in many ways, and for that alone, he is to be respected.

Many may not agree with many of his/his church's teachings, but I think we need to treat what will be happening when he does pass away, and the process afterwards with the greatest of respect.

The pope just died.:( How sad. The only pope I ever known. May he rest in peace. He was a great man.

In nomine Patri, et Fili, et Spiritu Sancti... Amen. (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit... Amen.)

Well done, true and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

Johannes Paulus P.P. II, requiescat in pace. (Rest in peace.)

May he rest in peace, and may he be succeeded by a statesman of a similar stature and capability.

This is a pic I keep and always will keep in my apartment. It was when my parents went on a church trip to Rome and the Vatican. They actually saw the pope in person. I wish I could have gone but I was still in college back then.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...assag/pope.jpg

:(

Pope John Paul II is the only Pope I really remember. I was a small child when he became Pope. He led the Catholic Church through some very challenging times, and I have great respect for him.

May he rest in peace.

I cry everytime I think about him. He was the only Pope I ever knew. I plan on staying home on the day they have funeral services for him. The least I could do is pay my respects to such an amazing man.