Pope John Paul II is dead, (1920-2005)

Aya Reiko · Post by **Aya Reiko** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:52 pm

Full News Article

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By VICTOR L. SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY - John Paul II, who led the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years and helped topple communism in Europe while becoming the most-traveled pope, died Saturday night in his Vatican apartment after 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 had gathered in St. Peter's Square below the pope's still-lighted apartment windows.
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peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 4:59 pm

I was watching it on the news yesterday. It was so sad. I was amazed at all the people standing outside the Vatican all night.

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:46 pm

Now this may sound cold, but I really am actually a little sad. For a Pope he was pretty cool, but I'm not Catholic so it's not really that big a deal to me. Really the biggest effect on me it has is that the already SLOW movement here is gonna come to a screaming halt. Again though, he was a pretty good guy as far as Pope's go and I just hope that they can get a replacement half as decent as he was.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 9:37 pm

I don't think you sound cold. I don't really expect anyone who isn't Catholic to feel this big sense of loss. If you do, that's great, but it's not that big a deal if you don't.

Really the biggest effect on me it has is that the already SLOW movement here is gonna come to a screaming halt.

What slow movement are talking about though 0___o

Post by **Tiff** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:01 pm

If you think you sounded cold, Jed-Kun...then I must be plain heartless.

I...really don't feel sad at all. I knew little to nothing about this person or his religion, other than he was "The Pope". That's it.

And why were so many people surprised that he was dying/dead?! This man has been dying for years, as far back as I can remember. He was in his 80s, for crying out loud. Women at my school were speaking in this hushed, shocked tone that, oh my god, the pope is dying. Well, yeah. No shit. He's old and has quite a few illnesses.

I'm sure he was a great man, and did great things. But I can't really mourn for someone I know nothing about.

Slrjoecool · Post by **Slrjoecool** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:14 pm

I'll have to agree with Tiff on this one. I've heard he was a great man, but I have no idea who he is, nor do I really care all that much either. I don't mean to offend anyone, but that's just how I feel.

RoastedTwinkies · Post by **RoastedTwinkies** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:26 pm

I'm in agreement. About six years ago, I didn't even know who the Pope was.

Post by **AnimeGuru0** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:29 pm

I'm sad that he's gone. He was a truly great man, and a great example to many. He also did many great things. While I'm not catholic, I feel for those who are greiving his loss. While I'm glad his suffering is over and that he is in a better place now, it's truly a shame to see him go.

On a side note, I am excited to see how the proceedings and ceremonies go with electing the new pope. It should be fun to watch the news in the next few weeks.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:58 pm

The Pope was a great humanitarian and leader, and it shows the advantages of a less political system of government where one man can actually take bold actions and sway the hearts of millions. There is as much chance that a tyrant can come to power, but when a benevolent man like John Paul is there, he is a boon to the world. He will be missed.

yoshmaster5 · Post by **yoshmaster5** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:00 pm

pretty much, I agree with Tiff.

he did some good things, but missed some major chances to make good examples for future popes. One, he could have allowed women to take higher positions in the Catholic church, but he didn't. Everyone does somethings they could have changed, but he made a few where he just ruled on tradition... but then again, almost everyone does that.

Otherwise, it doesn't effect me that much. except for the media. "the pope looked out the window today" ... that's nice. in a hospital, you can almost always look out a window. one thing that bothered me is how the Vatican kept trying to cover up the fact he was dying until a few days ago. *rolls eyes* he was 84-85 for pete's sake, by that time almost anyone would have health issues.

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:48 pm

I think it's really sad. But it's like my mom said,

"God has called the Pope. He did his best to help us, and now he's in a better place."

Post by **AnimeGuru0** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 1:19 am

yoshmaster5 wrote: One, he could have allowed women to take higher positions in the Catholic church, but he didn't.

You're talking about issues dealing with the priesthood, and there's deep biblical significance to who can hold the priesthood and who cannot. It's not something you can just "change" on a whim. For crying out loud, it took a MESSIAH to change rules on the priesthood for the first time.....

One thing that bothered me is how the Vatican kept trying to cover up the fact he was dying until a few days ago. *rolls eyes* he was 84-85 for pete's sake, by that time almost anyone would have health issues.

Where do you get the idea that the vatican tried to hide his illness? I've known he was ill for years. I've known for years that he's had parkinson's disease. When he caught the flu, the Vatican was very prompt with announcing that fact, the same with when he went into surgery, when he developed complications, and other things.....

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 1:57 am

ÁnimeGuru0, do you know you've been seconded and thirded?

I feel kinda sad myself--despite (once again) not being Catholic. After all, this man led an entire church, despite being at an age where most would have slowed down their lives considerably, and suffering from a debilitating condition.

Oh, and yoshmaster5, looking out a window when you're as frail as the Pope was would not be very easy.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 2:25 am

AnimeGuru0

On a side note, I am excited to see how the proceedings and ceremonies go with electing the new pope. It should be fun to watch the news in the next few weeks.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the Vatican let's anyone know how and what goes on when they select a new Pope. Everything's pretty hush hush until they reach a final decision, so I don't think the media will have much to report on ^_^;

I think, though I'm really not sure, that the way it goes is that the Cardinals from around the world come together, lock themselves in a building, completely cutting themselves off from the rest of the world, and go through rounds and rounds of voting on which one of them should be the next Pope.

I'm really unsure of this, but I think at the end of each day they release a cloud of black smoke from a chimeny when they haven't reached a decision, and white cloud when they have.

Don't quote me on any of this though ^^;

Too change the subject, yesterday my family was watching the local news and they were showing the people at Holy Rosary Cathedral (a big church in Vancouver) and said this:
"Many Catholics gathered here today, some who have never even met the Pope, to pray for him."

My family had a good laugh at that.

Jed-kun · Post by **Jed-kun** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:45 am

peachvampiress wrote:I don't think you sound cold. I don't really expect anyone who isn't Catholic to feel this big sense of loss. If you do, that's great, but it's not that big a deal if you don't.

Really the biggest effect on me it has is that the already SLOW movement here is gonna come to a screaming halt.
What slow movement are talking about though 0___o

Sorry, meant to explain that better, heh.

They operate on the principle of "domani"(sp) here. Essentially, "I'll get to it when it suits me". Now that the Pope is dead there's gonna be a LOT of mourning, the whole country is Catholic after all. So that's what I meant.

Post by **AnimeGuru0** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 11:40 am

Peach - The smoke out of the chimney and the election of the new pope and when he presents himself to the world are the ceremonies i was talking about.

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 1:13 pm

AnimeGuru0

Peach - The smoke out of the chimney and the election of the new pope and when he presents himself to the world are the ceremonies i was talking about.

^^; oops, sorry. I thought you meant the details of what they do everyday. The media's not going to be able to do a lot with that, though they'll probably find some way to hype it up.

Newsanchor: This is day 24 outside the Vatican where abolutely nothing new has happened. We've been here night and day waiting for....BREAKING NEWS IN THE POPE ELECTION! BLACK SMOKE HAS COME OUT OF THE CHIMENY! REPEAT, THE CLOUD IS BLACK! THEY ARE STILL UNDESIDED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!! There you have it people, no new developments. We'll keep you posted if anything exciting happens. This is FOX news on 24/7 Pope Watch.

Em · Post by Em » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:44 pm

I'm not all that sad that the Pope has died, as people are saying he was old it was expected of him. He did a good job and was a symbol for many catholic and still is even though he's no longer around. Know this may sound compltely heartless but I'm please he's died if ( as some poeple do) belive that when you die you go to heaven then surly he's better off then us lot still here?

But I'll be intersted to see what happnes next wiht everything however.

Akarui Kibuno · Post by **Akarui Kibuno** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 7:40 am

Well, I'm Catholic and theoretically I should be sad, right ? Or something like this ?

I don't want to sound cold either, but... well, I'm not. I'm not that sad. In fact, maybe I'm not sad at all. This all man had health issues and he died.

Hmm. I've heard about some opinions he had about some stuff that just showed he didn't want some things to change that much (I think there was a controversy about what he said of the use of condoms for example).

But it'll be interesting to see who is elected Pope after the conclave (the ceremony where they're locked up). The media is already debating over the fact that he should/could be coming from South America or Africa.

Chibisteven · Post by **Chibisteven** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:42 pm

Atleast he doesn't have to deal with anymore pain, I mean illness. I don't have relegion or anything and I don't mean to sound cold either.