The Pope has died
 

Now we know he is at least going to Heaven.

RIP

Blessings to him. :angel:

Sad day!
 

Very very sad. :(
Well he is with God now and happy! :angel:
Prayers go out.

I'm a Catholic, not really practicing, but this is still upsetting for me. At least we know that he's in a better place, and our thoughts and prayers are with him. :angel:

~Marissa~

He will indeed Rest In Peace.

At least...
 

he is in heaven now.

We were planting flowers from my Mother's funeral today in our yard and I just turned the TV on and saw the news.

RIP John Paul II

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
dominus tecum;
benedicta tu in mulieribus
et benedictus, fructus, ventris tui, Jesu.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis, peccatoribus;
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae,
Amen.

Rest In Peace Papas! We will miss you!

I was actually at the Catholic main Parish in town - doing a pre-Pope dying press conference.....no one knew....then I went home to eat lunch and found out he'd died...

So I'm at work now....very sad - lots of people are truly saddened by this news :distress:

At least he will no longer suffer.

I was raised Catholic but I do not practice. I still feel sad in a way. He is off to a better place. May he rest in peace. :angel:

:(
 

As Christ taught us to pray:

Abwû d'bwaschmâja
Nethkâdasch schmach
Têtê malkuthach.
Nehwê tzevjânach aikâna d'bwaschmâja af b'arha.
Hawvlân lachma d'sûnkanân jaomâna.
Waschboklân chaubên wachtahên aikâna daf chnân schwoken l'chaijabên.
Wela tachlân l'nesjun,
ela patzân min bischa.
Metol dilachie malkutha wahaila wateschbuchta l'ahlâm almîn.

Amên.

Yes indeed. May he rest in peace.

Even though I am not catholic, I am very sad. Rest in peace, John Paul II.

I am not Catholic, but I am relieved his suffering has ended, and I do hope he is at peace.

so who's the pope now. the world is currently Popeless at the moment, and there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency to replace him. It would seem to me that that would something the church would have lined up years before a pope dies. Especially how badly ailing Jon Paul was in his last few years.

There is reems of protocol attached to this. A new pope cannot be selected before the sitting pope dies, or abdicates. From Reuters:

++ The conclave to elect a new pope starts in the Vatican's
Sistine Chapel between 15 and 20 days after the death. The
cardinals, who are confined to the Vatican for the duration of
the conclave, decide the exact day. For the first time, they
will not live in the Chapel or nearby rooms in the Vatican
Museum, but in a new residence on Vatican grounds.
++ There are 117 cardinals under the age of 80 and so
eligible to vote. Only two were not appointed by John Paul II. A
majority of at least two-thirds plus one is required to elect
the new pope. When the conclave has elected a pope, he is asked
if he accepts and which name he wishes to take. Once this is
done, he dons papal vestments -- tailors keep several sizes
ready -- and sits on a throne in the Sistine Chapel to receive
the other cardinals who file up to pay homage and pledge
obedience.
++ The world will know a pope has been elected when an
official burns the paper ballots with special chemicals to make
white smoke pour out of the chapel's chimney. They use other
chemicals to make black smoke indicating an inconclusive vote.
++ Soon afterwards, the dean of the College of Cardinals
steps on to the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica to
announce to the crowds in the square "Habemus Papam" (We have a
Pope). The new pope then appears in his papal robes and gives
the crowd his blessing.

I was listening to Art Bell last night for a little while before I fell asleep. There were a few callers that believed that The Pope did not die but was in exile. :rolleyes: Can you believe that? Art Bell disagreed with these callers.

I can't believe they are showing his body all over the internet and on TV. :shrug: I don't want to see it.

I can. It's the tradition to display it and they've been showing the bodies of popes ever since photography and TV were invented. After all the ante mortem news coverage, it doesn't surprise me.

Shamus

OK my mom works at a church rectory and the day befroe he died the news said the pope died and so the church rang the bells and then later that night they said he was alive. So the next day mom goes into work and says well the pope died...again...lol

Actually there's a big urgency to have a new Pope, because now all the people in charge in Vatican haven't any power except five cardinals who can bring on only the everyday activities and organize the conclave. But there are rules and times to respect. Moreover 117 cardinals (plus those who are over 80 and wouldn't vote but can partecipate to the nine days of cerimonies for John Paul II) have to arrive in Rome. Anyway the funeral would be on thursday, and 15 days after it the conclave sessions will start.

Romy

Although I am not Catholic, I have a great respect for the Pope, especially this Pope. Pope John Paul II was such a wonderful man who preached tolerence of all cultures, peace/end to war, uniting all religions, etc. He reached out to EVERYONE. My hope and prayer is that the next Pope will have the same ideals and hopes for all the world, and he will continue to reach out across all cultures and religions and continue the work that Pope John Paul II started and carried on for so many years. May he rest in peace sitting at the right hand of God for eternity. :angel:

Well, unless you were a woman who wanted to be seen as an equal in the Catholic Church - or gay.

I hope the next pope sees the sense in promoting the use of condoms in the fight against the spread of AIDS.

I hope the next pope sees women as equals, and quite capable of leading a congregation, as have so many other religions.

I hope the next pope sees the advances that could be made for the health and well being of mankind through stem cell research.

I hope the next pope understands that women should have the right to choice, even if he doesn't agree with what they might choose.

Don't you know
 

I do agree with you on your points. My point was that he was much better than previous Popes in the department of reaching out to non-Catholics and other cultures. He was by no means perfect but better. Of course, it is the Catholic church's belief that you shouldn't use birth control of any kind. Therefore, he was upholding his church's beliefs. The same could be said for the Gay issue. I guess I didn't represent myself as clearly as I should have in my previous post.

As I stated in my previous post, I'm not Catholic, and I don't hold all the Pope's views. I believe birth control/disease control should be pushed for the sake of mankind. The idea that you shouldn't use contraceptives is quite outdated and not suitable for this day and age when sex can harm and possibly kill. As it is my belief that people who love each other should be able to marry no matter what their sex. My definition of marriage is: two people who love each other, want to be life partners, and share the ups and downs of their lives. I hope that Americans will quit dividing people and work toward uniting them. Fighting against gay rights is like a form of racism, except it isn't about race it is about who you love and who you are. I just hope I will live to see that change. I want an America where every one is free to be who they are without fear of persecution.

Therefore, I will have to disagree with the Pope on these issues as well, but aside from those issues, he did do many good things: call for peace/end to war, tried to unite all religious groups, end Communism, etc. He should be championed for those things, because no other Pope before him had done those things, especially on such a large scale. I will say that I wish the same things you do for the next Pope, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Therefore, I will hope that the next Pope will continue to champion uniting all cultures, all religions, ending war/bring peace, and be people-friendly, instead of taking a step backward. Also, we can pray for a step FORWARD.

Me neither. Ick. I hate dead bodies. Wakes creep me out too. :( I either start giggling like a fool (not at the casket or anything, but before I go it I'm in hysterics for some bizarre reason) or staring at the body waiting for it to move. :shocked:

The place I used to work was a Catholic agency connected with one of the largest churches in the Buffalo area. The guy who built the church (Father Nelson Baker) is up for sainthood. A few years ago, they decided to move his body from the cemetery next door into a crypt in the church itself - you know, cuz it's easier to pray for his sainthood if he's in the building instead of next to it, duh. So they dug the man up & poked around at his body for a while (apparently they took some vials of blood from him when he died in the 30's & they were still liquid, which is apparently a miracle...)

Anyhoo, I was taking a patient on an appointment & we saw them wheeling the casket out of the morgue to go to the basilica. The kid was like "OMG, is that a dead body?" Pretty morbid, if you ask me.

Me too - but it's doubtful with the Catholic churchs archaic view of birth control...:distress:


ME TOO! But again, sort of doubtful - but they're been talking a lot about whether this change will mean that the church can start moving in a more progressive manner....somehow I doubt it - but again, it's sticking to it's archaic view of women's place in the church

Oh that one won't happen...sad but true

Nor will this one :distress:

I think that though the church is capable of changing some things - the women thing is more likely to happen - but their stance on abortion and stem cell research? I don't see that budging at all :distress:

The Catholic Chruch lives in this area of reality that makes it almost quaint. For example, I know many "cafeteria Catholics" who just take what they perceive as good (spititual guidance, etc.) and just accept that this is an institution that in the last ten years apologized for Joan of Ark :eek:

oh no! If these things were to ever happen...I'd sure start to wonder if the world really was coming to an end...sorry these things aren't going to happen in the Catholic Church and for that I'm glad! Perhaps in smaller protestant sects...but not in the Catholic Church.

Actually so I don't get in trouble let me restate some things...lol

Women are important and can do a lot with in the church...they can become nuns...minister and be eucharistic ministers! HELLO...Who do we hold higher than any other human being that has ever walked the face of the earth (except Jesus, but him being God/Man doesn't count!)...The Virgin Mary!!!

The Catholic Church does support Stem Cell Research...just not EMBRYONIC Stem Cell Research.

Because we as catholics believe that every human being, from the moment of conception has a soul and a right to life, you can pretty much draw your own conclusions about what that means about abortion!

Condoms...sorry...no way! Abstinence...call it corny if you wish!

So I guess it's not just the Vatican who is behind the times...

Abstinence? NOT WORKING!!!

And women could be capable priests and need to be held to a higher regard by the Catholic church...

---------


Strand - so am I considered a Cafeteria Catholic? I've never heard that before..

I basically just am because

A) I was raised that way
B) I like the social justice teachings
C) I actually like the ritual of it

lol...I don't hold the "Vatican Law" as laws because they are man made and therefore well ya know...:)

I know I'm not a devout scary following blindly and accepting all the church teaches Catholic - :D

Well if you consider your fellow Catholics "blind" and "scary" then why do you even bother with the religion. Get out now...we're all crazy anyways...and we aim to take over the world!!! LOL

I've heard "Cafeteria Catholic" a lot. Actually, I think the term can be applied to any belief system/ideology.

I am not a member of the Catholic Church, but I do attend Mass sometimes. It is by far my favorite worship service. I also like many of their traditions (Saints, Advent, etc) which are just not found in many Protestant churches, save the Episcopalians.

Um I believe I just outlined why I am Catholic - and not once did I state that ALL OTHER Catholics are blind and scary...but some are....it's a fact...

There are aslo scary Muslims, jews, atheists etc...you can't get away from the crazies unfortunately...

I think the Catholic Church needs forward thinking people like myself so that it can eventually change and get with the times...

I am currently looking for a different religion though - one that IS more in touch with reality and the world....good luck to me :D :laugh:

I meant no disrespect by it :xoxo: I was just using that image as a way of illustrating my point that I know of no Catholic that follows every teaching of the Church. They, instead use the Church as a basic guide to live their life. I am totally okay with that because, as I mentioned, relatively few really takes the Church as 100% serious. In fact, it is pretty hard to do in today's world and IMO it is unnecessary. And, the Chruch will endure because people realize that and sort of threat it like a much loved elderly grandparent who has great advice but that advice is not always followed :shrug:

But, even in a new religion, odds are you would not accept all of its teachings. How many Catholics are against abortion, the death penalty, and stem cell research and are for no birth control whatsoever. I submit very very few. So, if you like in general Catholocism - I stay stick with it. It has a world of good to offer though it has done evil acts like playing hide the pedophile to avoid prosecution :eek:

But that's why I love being Catholic, the church refuses and is not going to change based on the secular society, especially that of America! Who would want to be a part of a religion that changes its beliefs and values just because its "with the times" and it's "what everyone else is doing". I don't see that as the "Jesus" thing to do. Just my observation. :)

Show your signature to your fellow parishioners and I bet they'll question your sexuality. :o

And all because of the man...that got away...

I think change is positive. The CC, just like every other Institution, was shaped by context and those in power. I mean, Christianity would be totally different had the Gnostic movement not been snuffed out by the Pauline line. :shrug:

I didn't take it as disrespectful - I'd just never heard the term before...

But what you described...I'm totally at Cafeteria Catholic :laugh:

:nod: Change is good - because the world is an ever-changing place...

And in fact the church HAS changed with the times - just not as fast as the time lol....