Pope John Paul 2 dies.

[Idiot-Finder]

VATICAN CITY (April 2) - Pope John Paul II, who helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on the church that he led for 26 years, died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment, ending a long public struggle against debilitating illness. He was 84.

"We all feel like orphans this evening," Undersecretary of State Archbishop Leonardo Sandri told the crowd of 70,000 that gathered in St. Peter's Square below the pope's still-lighted apartment windows.

A Mass was scheduled for St. Peter's Square for 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EDT) Sunday. The pope's body was expected to be taken to St. Peter's Basilica no earlier than Monday afternoon, the Vatican said.

It said the College of Cardinals - the red-robed "princes" of the Roman Catholic Church - would meet at 10 a.m. (4 a.m. EDT) Monday. They were expected to set a funeral date, which the Vatican said probably would be between Wednesday and Friday.

The statement did not give a precise cause of death.

Bells pealed in mourning after the Vatican said the pope died at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST). The assembled flock fell into a stunned silence before some people broke out in applause - an Italian tradition in which mourners often clap for important figures. Others wept.

John Paul's passing set in motion centuries of tradition that mark the death of the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, whom he led into the faith's third millennium.

The Vatican chamberlain formally verified the death and destroyed the symbols of the pope's authority: his fisherman's ring and dies used to make lead seals for apostolic letters.

The Vatican did not say if the chamberlain followed the ancient practice of verification by calling the pope's name three times and tapping his forehead three times with a silver hammer.

John Paul's funeral will be held within four to six days. The Vatican has declined to say whether he left instructions for his funeral or burial. Most popes in recent centuries have asked to be buried in the crypts below St. Peter's Basilica, but some have suggested the first Polish-born pope might have chosen to be laid to rest in his native country.

As John Paul's death neared, members of the College of Cardinals were already headed toward the Vatican to prepare for the secret duty of locking themselves in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. Tradition calls for the process to begin within 20 days of death.

Among possible successors are German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - one of the pope's closest aides and the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog. Others mentioned include Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras, Cardinal Francis Arinze, a Vatican-based Nigerian, Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Austria and Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Italy.

Karol Joseph Wojtyla was a robust 58 when the last papal conclave stunned the world and elected the cardinal from Krakow, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.

In his later years, John Paul - the most-traveled pope in history - was the picture of frailty. In addition to Parkinson's, he survived a 1981 assassination attempt, when a Turkish gunman shot him in the abdomen, and had hip and knee ailments. His anguished struggle with failing health became a symbol of aging and, in the end, death with dignity.

Outside the Vatican, the crowd of faithful recited the rosary. A seminarian slowly waved a large red and white Polish flag draped with a black band of mourning for the Polish-born pontiff.

Live Video:
ABC News Coverage
The Scene at the Vatican

Multiband:
The Pope Dies at 84
The Pope's Legacy
Candidate for Sainthood?
Contenders to Be Next Pope

Broadband:
Grief Follows Pope's Death
The Life of Pope John Paul II
Bush Honors the Pope
Mended Fences in Jerusalem
Reached Out to Muslims
Fought Against Communism
The Pope's Failed Hopes
The Pride of Poland
Ritual After Pope's Death

Prelates asked those in the square to keep silent so they might "accompany the pope in his first steps into heaven."

As the bells tolled in mourning, a group of young people sang, "Alleluia, he will rise again," while one of them strummed a guitar. Later, pilgrims joined in singing the "Ave Maria."

"The angels welcome you," Vatican TV said after papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced the death of the pope, who had for years suffered from Parkinson's disease and came down with fever and infections in recent weeks.

In contrast to the church's ancient traditions, Navarro-Valls announced the death to journalists in the most modern of communication forms, an e-mail that said: "The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 p.m. in his private apartment." The spokesman said church officials were following instructions that John Paul had written for them on Feb. 22, 1996.

"He was a marvelous man. Now he's no longer suffering," Concetta Sposato, a pilgrim who heard the pope had died as she was on her way to St. Peter's to pray, said tearfully.

"My father died last year. For me, it feels the same," said Elisabetta Pomacalca, a 25-year-old Peruvian who lives in Rome.

"I'm Polish. For us, he was a father," said pilgrim Beata Sowa.

In Washington, President Bush mourned the loss of "a good and faithful servant of God (who) has been called home" and said the pontiff "launched a democratic revolution that swept Eastern Europe and changed the course of history."

A fierce enemy of communism, John Paul set off the sparks that helped bring down communism in Poland, from where a virtual revolution spread across the Soviet bloc. No less an authority than former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said much of the credit went to John Paul.

But his Polish roots also nourished a doctrinal conservatism - opposition to contraception, abortion and women priests - that rankled liberal Catholics in the United States and western Europe.

[pr0de]

Good job, now photoshop him!

[Idiot-Finder]

A man who had lived under both the Nazis and the Soviets, he loathed totalitarianism, which he called "substitute religion." As pope, he helped foster Poland's Solidarity movement and bring down Communism. Once it was vanquished, he decried capitalist callousness.

During World War II, he appeared on a Nazi blacklist in 1944 for his activities in a Christian democratic underground in Poland. B'nai B'rith and other organizations testified that he helped Jews find refuge from the Nazis.

While the pope championed better relations with Jews - Christianity's "older brothers," as he put it - the Vatican formally recognized Israel in 1993. He also met with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and urged the Holy Land's warring neighbors to reconcile.

John Paul was intent on improving relations with Muslims. On a trip to Damascus, Syria, in May 2001, he became the first pope to step into a mosque.

The 264th pope also battled what he called a "culture of death" in modern society. It made him a hero to those who saw him as their rock in a degenerating world, and a foe to those who felt he was holding back social enlightenment.

"The church cannot be an association of freethinkers," John Paul said.

However, a sex abuse scandal among clergy plunged his church into moral crisis. He summoned U.S. cardinals to the Vatican and told them: "The abuse which has caused this crisis is by every standard wrong and rightly considered a crime by society; it is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God." Critics accused the pope of not acting swiftly enough.

Other critics said that while the pope championed the world's poor, he was not consistent when he rebuked Latin American priests who sought to involve the church politically through the doctrine of "liberation theology."

John Paul's health declined rapidly after he suffered heart and kidney failure following two hospitalizations in as many months. Just two hours before announcing his death, the Vatican had said he was in "very serious" condition, although he was responding to aides.

After his passing, Vatican, Italian and European Union flags were lowered to half-staff. In Washington, flags over the White House also were lowered.

People in John Paul II's hometown in Wadowice, Poland, fell to their knees and wept as the news reached them at the end of a special Mass in the church where he worshipped as a boy.

Church bells rang out after the announcement, but it took several minutes for people inside the packed church to find out as they continued their vigil into a second night.

Then the parish priest, the Rev. Jakub Gil, came to the front as the last hymn faded away. "His life has come to an end. Our great countryman has died," he said. People inside the church and standing outside fell to their knees.

The pope was last seen in public Wednesday when, looking gaunt and unable to speak, he briefly appeared at his window.

His health sharply deteriorated the next day after he suffered a urinary tract infection.

In its final medical statement Saturday, Navarro-Valls said John Paul was not in a coma and opened his eyes when spoken to. But he added: "Since dawn this morning, there have been first signs that consciousness is being affected."

"Sometimes it seems as if he were resting with his eyes closed, but when you speak to him he opens his eyes," Navarro-Valls said.

Navarro-Valls said the pope was still speaking late Friday but did not take part when Mass was celebrated in his presence Saturday morning.

He said aides had told the pope that thousands of young people were in St. Peter's Square on Friday evening. Navarro-Valls said the pope appeared to be referring to them when he seemed to say: "'I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you."'

(Associated Press reporters Nicole Winfield, Frances D'Emilio, William J. Kole and Brian Murphy in Rome contributed to this report.)

04-02-05 18:23 EST

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press.

[JoS]

I could so see a Pope from Africa. *clearly sarcasm*. The Church is progressing, but not that far yet. And apperntly the Pope after the new one is the anti-pope and will mark the begining of armageddon and Judgement Day.

[helenlea]

May God Rest His Soul! Amen!

[SkyCube]

At 4/2/05 07:21 PM, unowned wrote: Good job, now photoshop him!

I have. Check the reg's lounge thead. ;-)

[deslona]

I wonder how anti-christian-values govenments will be now the catholic leader (who was leader for longer than any other head of state) is dead.
USA will have alot less critisism now. For one (obvious) example.

Damn shame :(

[helenlea]

At 4/2/05 07:35 PM, -Sasha- wrote: May God Rest His Soul! Amen!

Now down to some home truths.

The Catholic religion has changed many, many, many times over the centuries.

Did you know priests were once allowed to marry? Yep. The reason they forbade the priests from marrying was that they did not want to recognize the legitimacy of the priest's kids claim on their father's homes. It became easier to just outlaw priestly marriages altogether.

John Paul II changed the Church's position on evolution.

Dunno if it's true (although it makes sense), but I heard that, during the Black Death, the church even ordained women as priests because, if they didn't, they'd have no priests at all, since so many died of the disease.

That's just three examples of the church *gasp* *shock* changing with the times.

[helenlea]

I must add this too.

If the church doesn't change, and change radically, they'll die. They are losing members every year, and it's increasing in numbers. Part of that was due to the inflexibility of the Catholic Church under John Paul II. If they want to keep their members, and gain new ones, they have to evolve to meet the times.

Just because something is tradition doesn't mean it's worth keeping. Look at slavery and segregation. Those are tradition too.

[jmaster306]

At 4/2/05 07:40 PM, deslona wrote: I wonder how anti-christian-values govenments will be now the catholic leader (who was leader for longer than any other head of state) is dead.
USA will have alot less critisism now. For one (obvious) example.

Damn shame :(

>.>
<.<
>.>

You do know that when one pope dies, they elect another one correct? Also the new pope could be just as hard on certain issues, if not more, than his predicesor? Just making sure before you make an idiot of yourself.

[MessiaH]

Good.

[SteveGuzzi]

At 4/2/05 07:20 PM, Idiot-Finder wrote: a huge copy-pasted article that you didn't even bother to edit

A link will suffice next time.

[psylent-pstalker]

Sniff Sniff....Words don't express it.

[PimkPimp]

so RIP

[fli]

At 4/2/05 07:52 PM, -Sasha- wrote: ...Part of that was due to the inflexibility of the Catholic Church under John Paul II. If they want to keep their members, and gain new ones, they have to evolve to meet the times.

What I'm gonna say is contrary.
Yes, there are many things the Roman Catholic Church is not in accordence in these more "liberal" ties.

And yet, the Pope John Paul was the first Pope to enter a Synagogue. He tried to re-connect ties with the Orthodox Church.

Yes, there were many rigid things going on with the Roman Catholic Church, however-- They were the first ones, if I correctly remember, to accept the Theory of Evolution side with the Creation Story. Many Christians, who are supposedly more "modern", are STILL at odds with this.

Under the guidance of John Paul, he called the Jews, "big brother religion". And instead of going against the odds of Jews, denouncing them or making them look evil Christ killers like Popes in the past, he said that all people most love Jews because Jesus was a Jew. Many US American Christians and Protestants have not yet gotten to that point.

Yes, the Roman Catholic Church is still a rigid thing, but retrospecively, not like how it was centuries ago. Being gay, I don't like how they're stance on homosexuality. I grew up loving the Pope, and I still do even if I'm Atheist. And it hurt me when he said that gay marriage was evil. But at the same time, the Pope loved people. He loves me, and I love him. How do I know? "Love thy neighbor. Love thy enemy."

Nonetheless, the Roman Catholic Church has become more flexible under Pope John Paul. After all, this is one of the biggest sect of the Christian religons.

[Ted-Easton]

Actually, an African pope isn't that far-fetched. From the CBC:

Francis Cardinal Arinze of Nigeria, 72. He'd be the first black pope since Gelasius I, who reigned from 492 and 496. Arinze was close to John Paul II. Best thing going for him is he was baptized 60 years ago by Father Cyprian, a Nigerian priest whom John Paul II has beatified.

A black pope baptized by a saint, the next step after beatification, would be something of a sensation for the new millennium.

Arinze espouses traditional church doctrine when it comes to matters of the family. In 2003, he was invited to give the commencement address at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The family, he said, is under seige.

I'm hoping he isn't the next pope. He's extremely conservative and vehemently opposes everything the church stands against. No laxing of the rules under his watch. Let's hope Godfried Cardinal Danneels gets the position, or if not he then Dario Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos.

[Mast3rMind]

I am deeply affected by the death of Pope John Paul. Out of all the people in this world he had tried to the the best of his ability to bring peace and sense to all. Who now can take his place? I pray that another person can the the right thing, if not try in this day and age we all live in.

[Viper-Studios]

its about time he died.

[Jerconjake]

Agreed, I felt bad for the guy. He hung in there too long. However, I feel the same way about the Catholic Church. All through it's history it has proved to be the most evil organization ever, and it still has hundreds of millions of members.

[specimen56]

Its a shame to lose him. A great shame. We can but hope that his predecessor will be something which can unite those christians who are being divided by their countries...
But he fought a hard battle against his illness, and may he rest in peace.

[D2Kvirus]

And if there's this movement to have him renamed John Paul The Great, can I assume PJPI was actually worse?!? Or are we to now term him Pope John Paul The Shite?

[Dilapsor]

I just hope we don't get a progress hating mongrel like the Archbishop here in St. Louis as the next Pope

[Idiot-Finder]

At 4/4/05 11:50 AM, Dilapsor wrote: I just hope we don't get a progress hating mongrel like the Archbishop here in St. Louis as the next Pope

Amen to that.

[Pre-K-Prostitute]

Omfg... doesn't have to change? in what way is the "law of god" (derived by men) applicable to every and any situation?

[Memorize]

I was wondering when he would die (not trying to sound mean or anything). He did good things, but the only thing im not liking right now is that they keep showing his body on tv.

[Johnny-Cancer]

I think he did the best he could, a swell guy.

[CrispiNuggets]

Respected people deserve to be respected. I am not really religious at all. I think religion is a guide to life. A "strategy guide" to life, if that fits better with what you're used to hearing. Certainly some religions are more invasive, some are less. I don't belong to a religion because I haven't found one that is not too invasive... however thats a different topic. Respected people deserve to be respected. The man did accomplish a great amount. Respect him, he made the world a better place. Of course, if you don't agree- that is your own opinion. So go ahead- disrespect a respected man, he will still be respected.

-btw, all that crap the original poster posted... thats probably illegal since it is a copyright infringement to post something stolen like that.

[NinjalumberjacK]

O rly?

[punisher19848]

You do realize that this occured about 7 months ago, right? Isn't this old news by now?