the pope

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AXOjen
II've gotten weary of the media's constant death watch of JPII. It seems like they've been waiting for him to die for years. Maybe his time is near, maybe it isn't. I don't think it's his fragile health that has been sustaining him anyway.

That point is well taken. Several years (at least five) ago, a guy I know who was the overall Pool producer for World Youth Day here in Denver was very quietly asked by someone in the US Council of Bishops if we (certain of the pool executives) would be interested in covering the election of a new Pope. The feeling back then was that he was gravely ill and wouldn't last long. We even discussed pre-positioning some equipment in Rome. I'm pretty sure I heard that several networks around the world had rented apartments with views of the Vatican in anticipation of John Paul II's death.

Well, he's fooled us so far.

But, just watching him these days is painful. It doesn't seem he can last much longer.

[KSigkid]

I fall into the same category as others who have posted; I've fallen away from Catholicism and found a better option for myself with the Episcopal church.

However, I still look at the Pope as a spiritual leader, even if I don't agree with all his policies. He embodies Catholicism to me, and it's sad to see someone (anyone actually) deteriorate like this.

Just a sad situation all in all.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
...A resistance fighter during WWII, a poet, a skiier/outdoorsman, a scholar and a man of God -- no matter what religion you are, you can realize that he is a truely remarkable man...

I'm not Catholic. But I do agree with this. He is a leader to so many people and it is sad to watch him or anyone else suffer like this.

[kappaloo]

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
I'm not Catholic. But I do agree with this. He is a leader to so many people and it is sad to watch him or anyone else suffer like this.

My grandmother's priest told her that the vatican has never pressured the pope to keep the schedule he has - it was always of his own choosing. He's a truly remarkable man and I agree that you don't have to be Catholic to think that.

[33girl]

Tidbit:

Ben Bradlee (of the Washington Post) dated Sally Quinn for many many many years. He said, facetiously, that he'd marry her when there was a Polish Pope...and he did.

I agree that the media death watch of not just the Pope, but anyone who ages/grows infirm in public is horrid.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
More information on the College of Cardinals and how a new Pope is elected.

College of Cardinals: http://www.aquinas-multimedia.com/cards/cards.html

Papal election: http://www.aquinas-multimedia.com/cards/sedeva.html

Or, just read "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.

[KillarneyRose]

Originally posted by KSigkid
I fall into the same category as others who have posted; I've fallen away from Catholicism and found a better option for myself with the Episcopal church.

However, I still look at the Pope as a spiritual leader, even if I don't agree with all his policies. He embodies Catholicism to me, and it's sad to see someone (anyone actually) deteriorate like this.

Just a sad situation all in all.

I couldn't have said it better mysalf, KSigkid.

[KSigkid]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Or, just read "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.

Good point...I just read it and had forgotten that part.

Co-sign on the offensive nature of a couple of the posts in this thread; both posts took me for a loop.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Or, just read "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.

Dan Brown's writings are fiction. If you are into conspiracies and not really interested in learning how things work, then it's the place for you.

Otherwise, the links that AlphaSigOU posted are sufficient.

Cosign on all of the other posts re: celebrity death watch and off-color cheap shots on what is otherwise a suprisingly respectful thread.

--add

[AXOjen]

Adduncan, I hope you weren't refering to my post as being offensive when I mentioned the "death watch". I meant it with great respect to the Holy Father.

[adduncan]

Originally posted by AXOjen
Adduncan, I hope you weren't refering to my post as being offensive when I mentioned the "death watch". I meant it with great respect to the Holy Father.

No, not at all.
I'm criticizing the media machine in that comment.

--add

I don't think anyone would refer to this fasicnation of the pope as a "death Watch"....i think he is widely admired by many and everyone would agree that they hate to see a pope, granddad, father, brother sister etc.... in such a state.

believe me i went through helpoing my mother who was the only child care and tend to my grand dad die of parkinsons and sometimes you wish it would end for the sake of the person so they wouldnt have to suffer any longer.......i dont want this thread to turn into an unrespectful thread or i will have it closed

[AXOjen]

It's okay, Cutiepatootie... I think most of us are on the same page. I'm sorry about your grandfather. That must have been a really difficult time. I admire the compassionate care that your mother and you gave him.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

When I saw the television coverage Pope John Paul II at Lourdes, I felt very sad. I hope that he isn't suffering with his ailments. He is a very well respected man around the world by over one billion Catholics. It's nice to read that he is so well regarded by people who are not or are no longer Catholics.

I'm not sure who will be the next Pope. There are more intelligent and informed people than I who will make that decision.

[AOII_LB93]

A few years back 60 minutes actually had a really interesting program about the Catholic church and supposed "front-runners" (I guess?) for the job. As a convert to Catholicism I found it extremely interesting. At that time they had mentioned the Archbishop of Paris who was a convert from Judaism as a child during WWII, a Cardinal in Africa (where they mentioned that there are Catholics that said they would cease being Catholic if the pope was black..to which several Jesuits said something like "Good, we don't need people like that as Catholics anyhow." and a Cardinal from Italy who speaks like 10 languages. (I think he's rather liberal and is the Bishop of Milan, but I can't remember right now.) They all basically agreed that it would not be a North American though.

Anyhow, just thought I'd ask if anyone else remembers that episode of 60mins.

I'm bummed about JPII and his health, even if one is not Catholic, it's easy to recognize that he has been a good man.