Unknown2005-03-31 23:38:30
QUOTE
VATICAN CITY — All roads were closed to the Vatican late Thursday evening as the health of Pope John Paul II (search) took another downturn.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church developed a high fever earlier Thursday as a result of a urinary tract infection, his spokesman said. The development came one day after the 84-year-old pontiff began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube.
Police set metal barriers to block the pathways to the Vatican as the midnight hour neared in Italy.
In Washington, D.C., Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (search), archbishop of America's capital, called a press conference and asked for prayer for the pontiff.
"Pray for the holy father, that he may recover and be able to communicate," McCarrick said. "If this is not the Lord's will, may he not suffer. He's going through a period of suffering. We worry about him."
Earlier Thursday, Italian media, Reuters news service and other outlets reported that the pope has received his "Last Rites" — the Roman Catholic sacrament reserved for the sick and dying — but a Vatican spokesman told Reuters that he couldn't confirm those reports.
Quoting Catholic "Church sources," Reuters reported it was likely the sacrament had been administered to the pope because of his rapidly failing health. The Catholic ritual involves anointing the ailing person with special oils.
Currently known as the "Sacrament of the Infirm" since it is also now done for the gravely ill, it used to be known as "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction" because it was reserved only for the dying in the past.
The sacrament is often misunderstood as signaling imminent death. But it is performed not only for patients at the point of death, but also those facing grave illness or a serious operation — and it may be repeated.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church developed a high fever earlier Thursday as a result of a urinary tract infection, his spokesman said. The development came one day after the 84-year-old pontiff began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube.
Police set metal barriers to block the pathways to the Vatican as the midnight hour neared in Italy.
In Washington, D.C., Cardinal Theodore McCarrick (search), archbishop of America's capital, called a press conference and asked for prayer for the pontiff.
"Pray for the holy father, that he may recover and be able to communicate," McCarrick said. "If this is not the Lord's will, may he not suffer. He's going through a period of suffering. We worry about him."
Earlier Thursday, Italian media, Reuters news service and other outlets reported that the pope has received his "Last Rites" — the Roman Catholic sacrament reserved for the sick and dying — but a Vatican spokesman told Reuters that he couldn't confirm those reports.
Quoting Catholic "Church sources," Reuters reported it was likely the sacrament had been administered to the pope because of his rapidly failing health. The Catholic ritual involves anointing the ailing person with special oils.
Currently known as the "Sacrament of the Infirm" since it is also now done for the gravely ill, it used to be known as "Last Rites" or "Extreme Unction" because it was reserved only for the dying in the past.
The sacrament is often misunderstood as signaling imminent death. But it is performed not only for patients at the point of death, but also those facing grave illness or a serious operation — and it may be repeated.
I am an atheist, but I can appreciate the great things this man has done, and I wish him the best.
Karrah2005-04-01 06:59:43
QUOTE(Visaeris Maeloch @ Mar 31 2005, 04:38 PM)
I am an atheist, but I can appreciate the great things this man has done, and I wish him the best.
86653
Agreed.
Daganev2005-04-01 08:08:52
I find it Ironic how he wanted to teach people how to die properly, and then the Terri thing comes up, and now he's getting his last rites.
Unknown2005-04-01 08:15:33
QUOTE(Kashim @ Mar 31 2005, 06:46 PM)
Since the post this was referencing has been deleted... the quote is now subsequently changed. -R
86660
Was that necessary?
Anyway... I wish him well, but I can't say I enjoy all of the attention he's getting. Perhaps if he'd just rest for once as ordered he wouldn't be in such poor condition post-operation.
Unknown2005-04-01 08:24:54
Ehhh... hes HOW old again? There are a lot of bishops in the Catholic church, once a man gets so old he cant stand and such for more than a short period of time he needs to hand it over to someone who can. When youre a 'long term' leader like that I dont think you should be allowed to lead if not physically fit to do so.. besides if you step down the guy who comes after you will then have you to look to for guidance for a while instead of *pope croaks* *bishops argue over who gets to be the next pope* *next pope is named and has nobody but some bishops who havent been pope to advise him*
-shrug- Thats just my two cents. I wish him all the best (despite my distaste for his church).
-shrug- Thats just my two cents. I wish him all the best (despite my distaste for his church).
Asarnil2005-04-01 08:26:28
considering the obscene amounts of bad april fools jokes in the media over the last 24 hours, I am waiting until tomorrow before even bothering to think about taking this seriously.
Shiri2005-04-01 08:28:35
...oi, I forgot it was April 1st. (Today WOULD be the day I wake up early, so I have 2 and a half hours to go before I'm safe. 
)
This does look serious though. But then you never know with the media.
HEY, that's what all that stupid Glomdoring stuff is about.
)This does look serious though. But then you never know with the media.
HEY, that's what all that stupid Glomdoring stuff is about.
Shoshana2005-04-01 09:11:12
Nah, it's been all over the media here as well. I don't think that the media from all over the world got together especially to make an extremely tasteless April Fools Day joke... Besides, April Fools Day things are meant to be really strange and random and unbelievable, whereas something like this was inevitable, really.
Daganev2005-04-01 09:17:46
A pope stepping down kinda of defeats the purpose of the pope. The pope is not suppose to just be 'some leader' Thats like saying you shoud keep the etneral flame only going at night when people can really see it better.
Unknown2005-04-01 11:03:50
blabbity blah blah blah. Just cause you step down from a religious post doesnt mean youre saying "oh well, god stopped talking to me, time to get another pope" youre still there to guide someone whos physically capable of doing what needs done.. hes got tons of puppets whats having one officially gonna matter? -.-
Ialie2005-04-01 11:07:12
QUOTE(Kashim @ Mar 31 2005, 06:46 PM)
I've heard that if black man becomes a pope, world will end or something like that. I think Nostradamus said so. But maybe he was a racist. 
Seriously though, I wish him well too.
It must be from the last minute, it wasn't in news I think.
Seriously though, I wish him well too.
It must be from the last minute, it wasn't in news I think.
86660
Um?
Unknown2005-04-01 18:23:57
I think the pope deserves great respect for everything he has done.
At the same time I can't say I agree with everything he has and hasn't done.
In the end it comes down to this I guess: he's a living being, he's been through a hell of a lot, he sure deserves some rest. I hope he gets better, or if he doesn't I hope he dies peacefully without the whole world gaping over his bedside.
And I do hope I don't see any TV making an april's fool joke out of this.... that'd be the day when I stop watching that channel.
At the same time I can't say I agree with everything he has and hasn't done.
In the end it comes down to this I guess: he's a living being, he's been through a hell of a lot, he sure deserves some rest. I hope he gets better, or if he doesn't I hope he dies peacefully without the whole world gaping over his bedside.
And I do hope I don't see any TV making an april's fool joke out of this.... that'd be the day when I stop watching that channel.
Daganev2005-04-01 18:43:48
living being no more.
Amaru2005-04-01 18:45:21
QUOTE(Lady Nepthysia @ Apr 1 2005, 12:03 PM)
blabbity blah blah blah. Just cause you step down from a religious post doesnt mean youre saying "oh well, god stopped talking to me, time to get another pope" youre still there to guide someone whos physically capable of doing what needs done.. hes got tons of puppets whats having one officially gonna matter? -.-
87040
You don't know what you're talking about.
My thoughts are with him.
Thule2005-04-01 18:48:06
QUOTE(Amaru @ Apr 1 2005, 02:45 PM)
You don't know what you're talking about.
My thoughts are with him.
My thoughts are with him.
87413
As are mine
Richter2005-04-01 18:51:06
At 84, he's lived quite long. And yes, this isn't an April Fools thing, I watch the news every morning as I get ready, and it was on everywhere.
My thoughts go out to him as well.
My thoughts go out to him as well.
Akraasiel2005-04-01 19:39:29
I wish him safe passage into the land of the Dead. May your God be with you Pope John Paul.
Karrah2005-04-01 19:46:59
QUOTE
I've heard that if black man becomes a pope, world will end or something like that. I think Nostradamus said so. But maybe he was a racist.
Nostradamus also predicted that the world was going to end three or four years ago...according to his oh-so-accurate predictions, we should be dead by now.
It's not the race, but the deeds that make you holy.
Richter2005-04-01 20:18:27
What makes you think we aren't already? We're all dead, stuck in some kind of a matrix-esque thingy.
Amaru2005-04-01 20:27:15
QUOTE(Richter @ Apr 1 2005, 09:18 PM)
What makes you think we aren't already? We're all dead, stuck in some kind of a matrix-esque thingy.
87500
