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Pope John Paul II dies, world mourning
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-03 08:36 Pope John Paul II, whose globetrotting papacy
inspired millions but left a divided Church, died on Saturday, ending years of
painful physical decline for the Polish prelate once known as God's Athlete.
A girl holds a candle during a night vigil in Saint Peter's Square at
the Vatican April 2, 2005. Pope John Paul II, the Pole who headed the
Roman Catholic Church for 26 years, died on Saturday evening, the Vatican
said. [Reuters] |
"Our beloved Holy Father John Paul has returned to the house of the Father,"
said Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, announcing the death to a huge crowd that had
gathered under the Pontiff's windows to pray for a miraculous recovery that
never came.
The Vatican said the Pope, who reigned over the world's 1.1 billion Catholics
for more than 26 years, died in his apartments at 9:37 p.m. (1437 EST),
surrounded by his closest Polish aides.
As the news spread through Rome, thousands of faithful streamed to the
Vatican to join those already there.The slow mourning toll of one of the great
bells of St. Peter's Basilica made the only sound to cut the stunning, tearful
silence in the Vatican.
Pope John Paul II smiles from his papal
throne, in this May 16, 1990 file photo, during his weekly general
audience, two days prior to his 70th birthday on May 18th. Pope John Paul
II died on Saturday, April 2, 2005.
[AP/file] |
The exact cause of death was not immediately given but the Pope's health had
deteriorated steadily over the past decade with the onset of Parkinson's Disease
and arthritis. Earlier this year it took a sharp turn for the worse.
He had an operation in February to ease serious breathing problems, but never
regained his strength and last Thursday developed an infection and high fever
that soon precipitated heart failure, kidney problems and ultimately death.
"The world has lost a religious leader who was revered across people of all
faiths and none. He was an inspiration, a man of extraordinary faith, dignity
and courage," said British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Just two hours after his death, around 130,000 people were in St. Peter's
Square, police estimated.
Necks craned up toward the lighted windows of the Pope's apartments where his
once vigorous body lay.
"I can't believe that's it. I know God will provide a new Pope but we'll miss
him so much," said Adrian McCracken, an Irishman who kept pressing his fingers
against his eyes and apologizing for crying.
The Vatican announced that the Pope's body would lie in state for public
viewing in St. Peter's Basilica from Monday afternoon at the earliest. No date
was set for a funeral, but it was not expected to happen before Wednesday.
Italy announced three days of national mourning, while his native Poland will
hold six days.
Vatican Secretary of State Angelo Sodano will say a Requiem Mass for the Pope
on Sunday at 10.30 a.m. (0430 EDT) in St. Peter's Square.
The conclave to elect a new Pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with 117
cardinals from around the globe gathering in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel to
choose a successor.
There is no favorite candidate to take over. The former Archbishop Karol
Wojtyla of Krakow was himself regarded as an outsider when he was elevated to
the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978.
In his native Poland bells rang out across the country and sirens wailed in
the capital Warsaw as news of the Pope's death dashed any lingering hopes of a
miraculous recovery.
"I am overwhelmed by pain. I have prayed for two days and thought that a
miracle will happen, but it didn't happen and now we can only weep," said Teresa
Swidnicka in Krakow.
Wojtyla, who saw his country occupied by the Nazis in his late teens, cut his
teeth as a clergyman when Poland was run by atheist pro-Soviet communists after
World War II.
Apart from his battle against communism, John Paul will be remembered for his
unswerving defense of traditional Vatican doctrines, drawing criticism from
liberal Catholics who opposed his proclamations against contraception, abortion,
married priests and women clergy.
Chinese Catholics sends condolence mourning Pope
The Catholic Patriotic Association of China and the Chinese Catholic Bishops
College sent a telegram Sunday morning to Vatican to express "deep condolence"
over the demise of Pope John Paul II.
"It is very sorrowful to know that Pope John Paul II has passed away at the
call of God, to rest in Lord for good," the telegraph reads. "It would be a
great loss for the pastoral and evangelical works of the Universal Church."
"We sincerely express our deep condolence, on behalf of more than 5 million
clergies and faithfuls of the Catholic Church in China, and pray God grant him
an eternal reward," it reads.
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