* cababarant *

Monday, April 04, 2005

Adios Papa

With the passing of Pope John Paul II over the weekend, I've been feeling a lot of sadness, especially watching the 24-hour cable news coverage of the hours leading up to his death and afterwards. It's interesting-- as a Catholic, I suddenly feel connected to all the other Catholics I watched on TV, Catholics from all over the world, holding vigil at St. Peter's. It made me remember that the Catholic Church really is a worldwide organization, one in which American opinion and membership is practically inconsequential; another reminder that the world does not revolve around just us.

Some interesting notes on JP II:

He was the 'sporting pope'. My favorite image of all those being trotted out was the one of him in a ski jacket-- a white one of course, just worn over the rest of his "Pope wear".
He visited 129 countries, the first 'global pope'. The previously most-travelled pope had only visited nine countries.
He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. The previous non-Italian, who died in 1523, was Adrian VI-- a Dutchman! John Paul II was the first Slavic pope.
In the 1940s, he was hit by a car, then later, hit by a truck. He was shot at in 1981 in an assassination attempt.

The NY Times obit is really interesting, and comprehensive, to say the least! (All 19 webpages of it!) It'll be interesting to see, for the first time that I'm aware of it, (actually John Paul I died when I was three, but at that age, obviously, I wasn't paying attention) the whole conclave procedure and how the Vatican will announce the selection of a new pope. I wish they would stop showing those images of JP II's body laying in state-- it's creepy! I prefer the images of him during his lifetime-- the only Pope I really knew of in my lifetime.

NY Times: All-Embracing Man of Action for a New Era of Papacy
Periodico El Mundo: El Ultimo Viaje del Papa
NY Times: Challenge Is Posed in Selecting a Successor

The crowd at St. Peter's, moments after the announcement of his death. (James Hill for The New York Times)

posted by sheryl | 9:56 PM |

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