The Pope

[Taz]

Pope John Paul is in a "very grave" condition and appeared close to death after suffering heart failure, the Vatican said.

"He is fading serenely," said Polish Cardinal Andrzej Maria Deskur, a close friend.

But the Holy See denied reports that the 84-year-old pontiff was in a coma in his Vatican apartment after refusing hospital treatment.

The Pope's fragile health took a sharp turn for the worse as he developed a high fever caused by an infection. After initially stabilising, his condition then deteriorated further, the Vatican said.

John Paul suffered heart failure during treatment for a urinary tract infection and was now in a "very serious" condition, the Vatican said.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in the previous statement the Pope had experienced septic shock and heart failure.

"This morning the condition of the Holy Father is very serious," the statement said.

However, it said that the Pope had participated in a mass and that he was "conscious, lucid, and serene".

The Polish born Pope's health declined sharply when he developed a high fever brought on by the urinary tract infection.

The Pope's wish to remain in his apartment at the Vatican and not be taken to the hospital was respected, Navarro-Valls said.

Im sure everyone here has at least heard about his ill health and know that his more then likely to pass away within the next couple of days. When it comes to religion my knowledge is rather slim but Im interested to know what would happen when the pope passes away. Does a new pope be selected and which people make this decision?

Well except for that Im interested to read peoples thoughts on this.

So yeah...Discuss :D

[Lover Nuts]

God knows, Tarrant. Like you, I don't have a clue what will happen when the Pope passes away.

Not to sound like a totally disrespectfull prick, but there's no hope for the Pope now. Much like how Arafat's condition was, he's set to pass away within a few days.

Thanks, :beer:

[Kalen™]

If no-one replies to you rent "Eurotrip" they talk about the pope there.. something along the lines of you wait 10 days and then the new Pope is announced.. I am not sure if the info in "Eurotrip" is correct but it's worth a watch either way.

[Taz]

To me eurotrip sounds like either a porno or obviously a europeon sequel to road trip. Im expecting a no **** comment in regards to this post.

[Kalen™]

It's neither haha.. it's like a teen movie.. fun and about four teenagers travel to Europe and explore many obsticles.. funny **** - you should grab a copy.

[Gravity]

I recently found myself wondering the same thing. I don't think a pope has ever died in my lifetime so to hell if I know...

"I'ma da freakin Pope"

[Peoples King]

Guess its up to a Catholic to fill you in. When a Pope dies the colleage of cardinals have a very very very ****ing long meeting. After much deliberation, wheeling and dealing they vote on a Pope. White smoke is left out of a chimney above St Peters(I think) and then they announce the new Pontif.

Its a sad state of affairs when the keep a poor old man alive as long as they can. He has been through countless bouts of surgery so that they can prolong his life. The poor bastard is living a very poor life now, its cruel. I hope they just let him pass. After that happens they will more then likely vote in some Cardinal who is on the far right. Look for condoms, abortions and everything else to get a good beating from the Vatican in the next coming weeks.

[D-Dogg]

Well i am a Catholic so i shall fill you guys. Basically when a Pope dies obviously a new pope needs to be selected. The Cardinals get together in St Peters and discuss who the new Pope should be everyday smoke is let out the chimmney. If they have not made a decision the smoke is black i believe but if they come a conclusion then they let out white smoke. There is no set time for the decision it could take days it could take weeks it can even take months until they reach their final decision. Once the new Pope is selected there is HUGE (and i mean huge) corronation in celebration of the new Pope and in celebration of the death of the old Pope (for all none Christians death is seen as a celebration as it means you are with God)

As for Pope John Paul my parents actually went to Rome just a few weeks back apparently they saw the him but he did not give any speech due to his condition, instead he just waved. To me that shows that the man is in terrible condition and that he near the end i just hope he dies peacefully and respectfully.

EDIT: Damn you PK you beat me to it.

[legendaryken]

Well, I'm a Satanist according to the What Religion thread, so let me fill you in.
Basically when the Pope dies, the Cardinals decide who will give them the best job and most power, and vote them in.

Well, I'm an atheist in real life, so what a lot of men in red dresses do in their private life is no concern of mine.

Well, I'm a citizen in a Catholic country in the third world, and I just hope whoever the new Pope is, he 'legalises' contraception, which might just help to improve our lot.

(That last one wasn't really me, btw.)

[Mac Daddy]

PK got it about right. I watching Don Imus this morning and he was talking to the Catholic League President William Donohue about Pope John Paul II and the future of the papacy. Anyway, here's a transcript (I don't know if its a full transcript) of the conversation:


MSNBC.com:


Imus: "You mentioned the next Pope. What will the Catholics worldwide be looking for, or what will the Cardinals who are going to select the next Pope be looking for? "

William Donohue: "Well don't forget, you have 119 Cardinals devoted and there are 119 that are under the age of eighty. This Pope has appointed more than 95% of them, I like that. The fact of the matter is, I think... I don't know who the next Pope is going to be, but I tell you what, he's not going to be fifty-eight. My guess is you'll probably get some guy maybe around seventy. The reason I say that is, I think they are going to have to rethink the direction in which they want to go. Obviously the next Pope will be stylistically different from this Pope. This is the media Pope, the world traveler. In terms of changing..."

Imus: "Will he be Italian?"

William Donohue: "He will probably be an Irishman..."

Imus: "Really?"

William Donohue: "(Laughing) No I'm kidding. The way the Americans handle the sex scandal they are not exactly... well they are probably in last place. I don't know whether he is going to be Italian or not, but I tell you I think they are going to take some time to rethink some things. Quite frankly everybody says he's a Conservative Pope and what not. I mean, what exactly do they expect him to do? He's not going to change, most of the teachings of the church have been pretty well set. You could change things on celibacy and dealing with Deacons I suppose... if somebody wants to take that on. As far as changing the church's teachings on sexuality, everybody wants a free-for-all Hugh Hefner's type of world. You're not going to get it from the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church talks about restraint in a world where restraint is a dirty word. That's not going to change. The next guy who is committed is not going to be a poster boy for Hugh Hefner."

[Peoples King]

Word round the campfire indicates that either a Nigerian or a Brazilian could be the next big man. If the Nigerian Cardinal gets it then he will be the first black pope. IMO that would be good publicity for the church, great PR.

[Gravity]

That is very interesting PK. Should be fun to see how that turns out. How much longer you think the guy's got left in him?

[Lover Nuts]

Not long I should think. Too much stuff has happened to him over the years. A lot of people are praying for him, let alone some people from the UK have travelled to Rome for him.

Thanks, :beer:

[unpossibl1]

So, should they remove his feeding tube? :chuckles:

Could you imagine how big of a controversy THAT would be?

[Lover Nuts]

Oh god, the media would have parade about it.

Thanks, :beer:

[Peoples King]

He is being fed through the nose! That is sick and IMO doesnt leave the man with alot of dignity in his last few days. I think a hip hop priest could really do the trick for the new generation. Im thinking John Cena but without the cursing.

[Don Carlito]

Well He has finally Passed away and enter the gates of Heaven ....... This is a sad day for all .......... :(

[Mac Daddy]

Christ has opened the door to the Holy Father.

Man, I'm not Catholic (I do have a close friend who is), but John Paul's death strike unordinarily. I mean it was almost (not entirely, but almost) like the POTUS died (Bush is a bastard, but he's still my president and I would feel sorrow for my country. Besides, then that'd mean Cheney would be president).


RIP John Paul II
1920 - 2005

Roman Catholics have my condolences.