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Posted By : marla difilippo on Jun 12, 2005 *
Comments : Please help me find an email address to request the Pope's blesssings in the form of a certificate for my in-laws' fiftieth wedding anniversary. Thank you!

Posted By : margret doyle on Jun 09, 2005 *
Comments : i wiil always have in my heart the most memorable tome when i went to the vatican to see giovanni paolo lying in state,until the popes death i did not "unfortuntly "be true to my self or my faith!!i am sorry!!but a man dearly loved and missed by millions of peole and just as much this girl here from scotland ,,god bless oyu giovannixx

Posted By : onyibalu francis on Jun 07, 2005 *
Comments : your life worth emulating i love you for you are the only pope i know .heaven will be you reward .when you are alive you won souls for God

Posted By : David A. Sparks II on Jun 06, 2005 *
Comments : I would like to say thanks to Pope John Paul II for all the encouragement that he has not only given to me, but to everybody in the world. Thank you Holy Father

Posted By : george ochonogor on Jun 04, 2005 *

Comments :
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Dear sir/madam
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Posted By : Stephanie on May 29, 2005 *
Comments : I love Pope John Paul he is a very great man, and he will be missed dearly. For those people who don't agree with him how could you not agree? He is the Holyiness hear to do God's work, and he did a wonderful job.

Posted By : Michael on May 25, 2005 *
Comments : Love

Posted By : nidhi on May 24, 2005 *
Comments : i want to know the entire life history of pope jhon paul 2

Posted By : Ania.. on May 23, 2005 *
Comments : i am from Poland and i am proud of Him...cause he changed the world.,, (*)

Posted By : Phoebe Pike on May 23, 2005 *
Comments : The pope was a great man and I hope will always be remembered as such.

Posted By : Matthias on May 21, 2005 *
Comments : I want to know more about Pope John Paul the second.

Posted By : Megan on May 16, 2005 *
Comments : I will miss the pope and he will always be in my heart forever. Let the Holy Lord keep him safely in his gentle arms forever.Let the Lord keep safe watch on him always. R.I.P. good man.

Posted By : Bernard Yeboah on May 15, 2005 *
Comments : i need friends.

Posted By : Debra McCord on May 14, 2005 *
Comments : THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE HONORING JOHN PAUL. I LOVE ASND HONOR HIM AND HIS WAY OF BRINGING MYSELF AND OTHERS CLOSER TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, MARY AND OUR MIGHTY GOD.

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Comments : I think this site is awesome

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Posted By : Thomas Davies on May 12, 2005 *
Comments : you were an all inspiring, amazing, father to me and i wish you good fortune in heaven

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Posted By : Kunjethy on May 10, 2005 *

Comments :
Electing a new Pope: The Conclave and all that

Prof. George Menachery
ONE

Many Popes have altered the rules for the conduct of the gathering of the cardinals called the Conclave (con = with, clavis = key – that is, behind locked doors) which elects the new Pope. Pope John Paul II has added {Universi Dominici Gregis, Shepherd of the Lord's Whole Flock - 1996) to the many significant changes made by Pope Paul VI (1967, 1970, 1975). Of these changes in procedure made by John Paul II one will have very far reaching consequences. According to Pope Paul VI’s rules the winning candidate had to get two-thirds plus one votes of the number of cardinals present and voting.

Simple Majority may be sufficient in 2005 Conclave

In John Paul’s rules the necessary number for election is only two- thirds (only if the total is not divisible by three it must be two-thirds plus one); but what is to the point: after 30 elections if still there is a deadlock and no one has obtained the necessary two thirds majority then the cardinals could decide to elect the person who secures a simple majority of fifty percent plus one. This means that if a cardinal gets 50% plus one at the beginning his supporters could simply sit out and wait for the 30th election to be over, when he could be elected with the same number of votes that he polled at the commencement of the election. The very much more comfortable beds and rooms which will be made available to the cardinals this time could make such a waiting for many days feasible, which could not have been imagined in the previous elections where the cardinals were housed in hallways and corridors on folding cots with inadequate conveniences. In fact when I visited the conclave area in and adjoining the Sistine Chapel in 1978 October, two days before the beginning of the last Conclave, as a specially selected representative of the press, with 59 other fellow journalists (out of a total of 1300 accredited media representatives, this time I am told there might be more than 4000) we found the accommodation provided for the cardinals much less satisfactory even than the amenities provided by the cheapest pensione. This time over, although the election takes place in the Sistine Chapel, the cardinals will live in the five-story Domus Sanctae Marthae, a Vatican residence with 105 two-room suites and 26 single rooms, some thousand odd feet from the Apostolic Palace, built in 1996. The rooms, as in previous Conclaves, will be allotted by lot. Last time the Cardinal from Krakow Karol Wojtyla got room number 91 in the Conclave area. As a result of the present change in rules it is almost certain that a Cardinal with Pope John Paul II’s views is almost sure to be elected since out of the 117 Cardinals under 80 eligible to vote 114 have been elevated to the post by John Paul II himself, most of whom reportedly with the same outlook as Pope John Paul II himself. It is my personal opinion that this part of the regulation will have much opposition in the coming days and most probably the next Pope will considerably dilute this clause so as to avoid hardline stances, because as it is there is not much meaning for the two-thirds stipulation. Under these circumstances chances of Cardinals who have received much exposure during the recent papacy and the recent ceremonies and who also have contacts and knowledge of languages on their side will be considerable.

Secret, Top Secret
Each and every step in the present system of electing the Pope has developed from differing experiences, situations, and circumstances down the centuries… and to study these developments is most interesting and quite rewarding.

In 1271 the 17 Cardinals started the election at Viterbo, 40 miles from Rome. On account of various external pressures they could not agree on a Pope for two years and a half. Finally the angry people intervened. They locked in the Cardinals and even closed all holes in the walls with bricks. They even punished the reluctant electors by taking off the roof of the building, subjecting the Cardinals to the wrath of nature. And they were even starved.

Finally the Cardinals arrived at a compromise: they elected a six member committee from among themselves to take a decision for them. Thus was elected blessed Gregory X. Naturally he was forced to begin the process of today’s secret conclave because of this experience. 700 years ago at Lyons were established the first Conclave rules. Many of the Popes, including John Paul II have made changes in these rules “What leads me to take this step is awareness of the Church's changed situation today and the need to take into consideration the general revision of Canon Law which took place… While keeping in mind present-day requirements, I have been careful, in formulating the new discipline, not to depart in substance from the wise and venerable tradition already established” –JPII. John Paul II has forbidden the 2005 Conclave to elect a Pope by the Compromise or Committee method.

Fortunately no 20th century papal election had lasted more than a week. Pius X was elected in a day. To elect Pope John XXIII the 51 Cardinals of his day took only three days. 111 Cardinals coming from the five continents found their leader in the Pope of the eternal smile John Paul I in a single day. John Paul II himself was elected in the seventh poll on the third day of the Conclave.

Conclaves and the Sistine Chapel

It was originally permitted to have the election anywhere. Elections have taken place in many different towns of France and Italy. It was Pope Clement the VII of the Medici family – the illegal son of a Medici – who ordered that all papal elections must take place in Rome. Now the elections must take place in the Vatican only. Though there was no objection to having the election anywhere in the Vatican the Cardinals have traditionally preferred the Sistine Chapel for the election. And they could not be blamed for that. If asked which is the most beautiful man-made space in the world many art lovers would not hesitate to reply “The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace”. Every square inch of this chapel – whether it is the ceiling, the walls, the floor…of this 136”x 48”x 86” structure depicts the works of the best known renaissance artists – Perugino, Ghirlandhao,..and of course Michelangelo.

The great warrior Pope Julius II asked Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the chapel with stars and traditional decorations. “Painting is not my trade”, said Michelangelo. “I am a sculptor. You may give this job to Raphael,” he said to the Pope. Finally he agreed to do the job so that he could get the commission to sculpt the marble tomb of the Pontiff. Michelangelo believed sculpture much superior to painting, and had many arguments with Da Vinci on the matter. Today the ceiling, some 86 feet above ground, is filled with the incomparable 5600 sq. ft. series called the Genesis or the Creation. After many years the altarpiece of the chapel, 2000 sq. ft., was also painted by Michelangelo himself – The Last Judgment. These four hundred years and more the Last Judgment has been attracting millions of art lovers every year from all over the world.

No wonder John Paul II orders the Conclave – the actual election of the Pope to take place under these paintings. “At the same time, in view of the sacredness of the act of election and thus the need for it to be carried out in an appropriate setting where, …and where, on the other, the electors can more easily dispose themselves to accept the interior movements of the Holy Spirit, I decree that the election will continue to take place in the Sistine Chapel, where everything is conducive to an awareness of the presence of God, in whose sight each person will one day be judged.”

TWO

In the year of the three Popes - 1978 when this writer had an opportunity to examine the secret arrangements of the Conclave the floors of the Sistine and environs had already been paved with timber to level the floor. Thrones for the Cardinals and utensils for the conduct of the election were already in place. Touching all those paraphernalia brought to mind some special features of that most secret of election processes.

Anybody can be Pope, even a layman or in theory at least even a non-Christian. In the first 800 years of Christianity it was the deacons of Rome who became Popes. It was only after that period that a bishop became Pope. However in the last 700 years only Cardinals have been elected to the position, except Gregory the XVI in 1831 who was not yet a bishop when elected. From1523 to October 1978 papacy was the monopoly of Italians, so to say.

True, Peter was from outside Italy. But of his 264 successors to-date only 59 have come from outside Italy. 15 Greeks, 15 Frenchmen, 6 Germans, 6 Syrians, 3 North Africans, 3 Spaniards, 2 Dalmatians, 2 Goths, 1 Thracian, 1 Englishman, 1 Portuguese, and 1 of Dutch origin – the nationality of another one is not clear – and finally John Paul II, a Polaco.

Sylvester I the first French Pope (999 – 1003) was a great scholar and is thought to have been the model for Dr. Faustus.

Nicolas Breakspeare was the only Englishman to occupy Peter’s throne and he took the name Adrian IV (1154 – 59). Though a second Englishman has also been elected he refused to become Pope.

In 1305 the ongoing conflicts between the imperialists and the republicans split the city states of Italy so that the seat of the Pope had to be shifted outside Italy to Avignon in France. For well nigh three quarters of a century Avignon remained the seat of corruption and greed until Pope Gregory XI restored the seat of papacy to Rome.

Both the foreign Popes of the 15th century were members of the notorious Borgia family of Spain. They, Calistus III and his nephew Alexander VI, made the papacy a family affair. Pope Alexander the Sixth made four of his nephews and an illegitimate son Cardinals. The Borgias made poisoning into a fine art. The attempt of the Borgia father and son to poison a rival misfired when Pope Alexander drank the poisoned drink by mistake and died within a week When one enters the Borgia rooms in the Vatican Palaceone trembles with fear in spite of the Raphael paintings. The person elected from outside Italy before John Paul II was the Dutch Adrian. He had to face the consequences of Martin Luther’s revolt. When Adrian, who had confessed the errors of the Church and had tried to correct them, died there was no one to mourn his death. A floral crown appeared at the door of the Palace Doctor who had failed to save the Pope. Because of that Dutch Curse no one had been elected Pope from outside Italy for 455 years, until 1978.

Although Indian Catholics form only a small portion of the Catholic population of the world some three percent of the electoral college comes from India: Cardinal Vithayathil of Ernakulam, Cardinal Dias of Bombay, and Cardinal Toppo the chairman of the CBCI. Cardinal Lourdsamy and Cardinal Pimenta have no votes as they have crossed 80. The former Nuncio to India Cardinal Caciavillan is another voter.

The Commencement of the Conclave

Why is it that the election begins only after 15 to 20 days (in Pope Paul’s regulations 15 to 18 days) after the death of the Pope? Blessed Gregory X had ordered the Conclave to start ten days after the death of a Pope. Gregory’s rule was followed without interruption for 648 years. But the rule had to be changed in 1922. American Cardinal O’Connel of Boston boarded ship to attend the August 1914 Conclave. But when he arrived Benedict XV had already been elected Pope. The depressed Cardinal returned to Boston. In 1922 he again started by ship for the next Conclave. But by the time the Cardinal entered the Conclave white smoke had begun to appear from the thin Sistine pipe.

The disappointed Cardinal got wild with the Cardinal Camerlengo. It was felt by many that the election was being held on the tenth day of the demise of the Pope only to exclude Americans from it and to insult American Catholics. However the newly elected Pope Pius XI decided that thereafter the Conclave should start only 15 days after the death of a Pope, and if necessary the commencement could be postponed by two or three days to enable all Cardinals to arrive. O’Connel who was Cardinal for a long time once again started from Boston for the 1939 Conclave. By this time his hasty departures had become the subject of many jokes and cartoons. But on this occasion he did reach the Vatican in time, and attended the Conclave from beginning to end. The Pope elected at this Conclave was Pius XII. But by 1939 it was possible for American Cardinals to reach Rome by plane, reaching Rome often much before many other Cardinals.

John Paul II has declared in his regulations for the 2005 Conclave:

“When the funeral rites for the deceased Pope have been celebrated according to the prescribed ritual, and everything necessary for the regular functioning of the election has been prepared, on the appointed day — and thus on the fifteenth day after the death of the Pope or, in conformity with the provisions of No. 37 of the present Constitution, not later than the twentieth — the Cardinal electors shall meet in the Basilica of Saint Peter's in the Vatican, or elsewhere, should circumstances warrant it, in order to take part in a solemn Eucharistic celebration with the Votive Mass Pro Eligendo Papa. This celebration should preferably take place at a suitable hour in the morning.”

During the occasion of the last Conclave this writer was fortunate enough to be included in the fourteen journalists officially admitted to cover this Votive Mass Pro Eligendo Papa or Mass for the Election of the Pope, when I was able to take a rare photo of Cardinal Woityla who at the end of that Conclave became Pope John Paul II.

“From the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where they will assemble at a suitable hour in the afternoon, the Cardinal electors, in choir dress, and invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit with the chant of the Veni Creator, will solemnly proceed to the Sistine Chapel of the Apostolic Palace, where the election will be held.”

There is also this provision: “However, should any Cardinal electors arrive re integra, that is, before the new Pastor of the Church has been elected, they shall be allowed to take part in the election at the stage which it has reached.”

So much for the wailings of the Cardinal from Boston.

THREE
The Election Process

The papal election and election processes are keenly watched and studied by the world; especially by politicians all over the world, irrespective of country, religion, or political ideology.

The various steps and procedures for the election of the new Pope as revised and promulgated by John Paul II in 1996 may be summarized as follows: The cardinals assemble in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope 15-20 days after the death of the reigning Pope. The utensils necessary for voting – pen, paper, ink, ballot papers etc. will be on each Cardinals’s table, distributed by the Masters of Ceremony. Then are selected by drawing of lot, from among all the Cardinal electors, three Scrutineers, three persons charged with collecting the votes of the sick, called for the sake of brevity Infirmarii, and three Revisers. The Cardinals are not to have any contact with the outside world during the duration of the Conclave. They cast their secret ballots, disguising their handwriting, into a chalice with a paten. Though in theory any Roman Catholic can be chosen, only a Cardinal is chosen in practice. Four ballots are conducted each day -- two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Each time, after both votes of a session, the papers are all burned, along with chemicals or other material (wet or dry straw for example) to produce black or white smoke as the case may be. ( Last Conclave I especially noticed the small bundles of straw, two bags of charcoal, a box of firewood, iron sticks, pokers, and spoons for feeding and stirring the fire, and sticks of chemicals with the labels “White” and “Black”. If a Pope has not been elected after three days, nobody having secured two-thirds of the votes, according to the new regulations there will be a short break – of a day – for prayer, an exhortation by the top Cardinal Deacon, Cardinal Priest, or Cardinal Bishop, and discussions. There will be similar short breaks after each seven unsuccessful ballots. After thirty ballots if still no one obtains two-thirds majority, the Cardinals will elect the person who gets simple majority, i.e. 50% plus one votes. The election is announced after the newly elected person consents to be Pope and chooses the name by which he will be known. The newly elected pope then emerges and gives his first papal blessing: Urbi et Orbi ("To the City and to the World") to the crowd in the St. Peter’s Square.

Cut off from outside Contacts

John Paul the First died on 25th September 1978. On October 14th the doors of the Conclave were locked and sealed from inside and outside. From the next day onwards voting took place twice in the morning and twice in the evening. However this time it is possible that a single ballot may be taken in the first afternoon itself. The ballots were deposited in the golden chalice kept on the white cloth spread over the papal altar of the Sistine Chapel. Following previous practices tape-recorder, Vidieo, newspaper, cell-phone, TV, camera – all are forbidden in the Conclave areas. Periodic eclectronic checking will be carried out to ensure this.

In fact there are no candidates in this election, no ‘proposers’ and ‘seconders’. In one sense it is only the Holy Spirit who proposes, in the privacy of each voter’s heart.

Election by Acclamation Forbidden

The scene was the funeral ceremonies of Pope Alexander II in the 11th century. Suddenly a voice arose: “Let Hiederbrand be Pope!” Everybody repeated that demand. Thus all the assembled congregation took Hiederbrand to the church and enthroned him as Pope Gregory VIII. But the new regulations do not permit election by Acclamation. Or by Compromise. Only election by private individual voting is allowed. In any case election by acclamation and by committee has not been resorted to for many centuries.

Criteria for Election

The age, country, administrative experience, holiness of life, knowledge about the teachings of the Church, scholarship, attitudes, Curia membership, knowledge of languages – especially Italian and Latin, travels…all count in the selection of the proper candidate. Agatho from Sicily was elected when he was a hundred years old, and yet ruled for three years. Among the nine recent Popes only Benedict XV died before 80 – and of course John Paul I. The longest reigning Pope was Pius IX who ruled for 31 years. The second place goes to John Paul II – 27 years. It is traditionally believed that St. Peter ruled the longest. Stephen II died two days after he was elected Pope. In 1605 Leo XI ruled only for 27 days. The third shortest rule was that of John Paul I – 33 days.

Note: Pl. inform if any other aspect is to be described.There are quite a few. E- Mail: kunjethy@yahoo.com

Posted By : Kunjethy on May 10, 2005 *

Comments :
A TRIBUTE TO JOHN PAUL

Prof. George Menachery had read and written much about PAPAL ELECTIONS. When he went to Rome as a free lancer for the October 1978 election where the conclave of Cardinals chose the present Pontiff His Holiness Pope John Paul II, he had merely wanted to experience at first hand the joy and excitement of a papal election as described in classics he had read many times over such as Morris West’s ‘SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN’, Irving Stone’s ‘The Agony and the Ecstasy’, and Henry Morton Robinson’s ‘The Cardinal’. But his Roman holidays turned into a memorable adventure. Read about it here.

The Cardinals were arriving one by one for the ‘Mass for the Election of the Pope’. They entered the cobbled courtyard behind St.Peter’s Basilica in huge cars and walked towards the special back-door of the Basilica quite close to the main altar.After the Mass they would enter the Conclave (‘with key’) and proceed to elect behind locked doors the next spiritual leader of the crores-strong Catholic community of the world and the temporal head of the State of Vatican.

I was the only Indian among the 1300 press reporters from all over the world in Rome that October accredited by Archbishop Pancharoli’s Vatican Press Office.Of these 300 belonged to the English-speaking group. The Italian group was 320-strong, the French were 200 odd, and the Spanish/Portuguese 140. In addition there were more than 300 TV crewmembers. Apart from two or three selected TV teams only fourteen of the 1300 reporters who had arrived to report the papal elections were permitted to enter the Basilica for the function to report and to take exclusive photographs.
Vatican accreditation given to George Menachery by the Vatican Press Office

These were selected by lot during the briefing sessions and I was extremely lucky to get one of those fourteen coveted cards. Some well-known magazines and papers from the United States and France were willing to pay huge amounts for this card. In fact some of the fourteen photographers present now at the Basilica door represented the most famous magazines and newspapers of the world, having procured the cards from the original lucky winners paying quite hefty sums.

One of the very first to arrive to attend that crucial function before the all-important Conclave locked its doors against the outside world was Lawrence Cardinal Picachy of Calcutta. As he got down from the huge car on to the vast brick-paved yard and proceeded towards the Basilica my Minolta flashed twice or thrice. One or two other pressmen also photographed the Cardinal from India, I noticed with pleasure.

It was with a huge coterie of admirers and followers that Cardinal Siri arrived. So also Cardinal Benelli. Both were front-runners in the first ballots in the previous election and one of these two was expected to come out of the Conclave as the new Pope. Hence the photographers vied with each other in taking their pictures. I also took one each. But I was now mainly waiting for the arrival of Cardinal Parecattil of Ernakulam, ‘my Cardinal’. Then came Cardinal Rossi of Propaganda in the company of Archbishop Lourdusamy (now a Cardinal). They talked serious business for a while before the Cardinal entered the Basilica and Lourdusamy went back. I didn’t forget to snap the duo.

But now the sound of music from inside the Basilica was growing louder and louder. Like the Wedding-guest in Coleridge’s ‘Ancient Mariner’ I had to still reluctantly tarry waiting for my Cardinal to arrive. There was still no sign of his car. Most of my fellow photographers were preparing to enter the church to cover the Mass and the decisive guide-line speech to the Cardinals. It was then that I noticed a solitary figure in red approaching from the huge gateway. This Cardinal looked lonely, tired, and crestfallen, yet somehow upholding the dignity of a prince of the Church. He alone among all the Cardinals arrived on foot, walking hurriedly towards the Basilica. No camera aimed to take his picture coming as he was without benefit of admirers and supporters. One or two of the big-time photgraphers from the US were looking at this pitiable figure almost it seemed contemptously. “There are lots of unused frames in my Minolta. I need only a few more to cover Cardinal Parecattil. So why not snap him, whom nobody appears to care for?”, I thought. And so I took a photo of this lonely man. He raised his head in some surprise, and went in silently. Soon afterwards Cardinal Parecattil came from the gianicolo hospital where he was staying, smiled at me, and went in, the very last Cardinal to enter the Basilica.

With thousands I stood in the Piazza San Petro between the colossal columns of Bernini near his fountain and the huge obelisk in the Vatican looking at the thin pipe raising its head to the left of Michaelangelo’s mammoth dome from the famous fresco-adorned Sistine Chapel to see whether it would spit white smoke this time, fifty-six long hours and seven ballots after the Cardinals had been locked up inside to elect one, most probably from among themselves, as the new successor of St. Peter. Two days back I had the rarest of privileges to study the arrangements in the conclave area as the goddess of fortune had given me one of the sixty cards distributed by lot among the 1300 journalists to inspect the secrets of the Conclave . I was especially attracted to the pepper containers on the table of each cardinal who will be attending the Conclave. I told fellow journalists how two millennia back 100s of 1000s of gold coins minted by Caesar Augustus who forced pregnant Mary to travel all the way to Bethlehem, Tiberius Caesar the master of Pontius Pilate, and the ‘fiddling’ Nero had found their way into distant Kerala in exchange for Kerala’s pepper and pearls and how Alaric the Goth had asked for 3000 pounds of Indian pepper. as ransom to free the Senate Fathers of Rome. From the stoves arranged to burn straw and chemicals to produce the white and black smoke I put some coal pieces into my coat pocket as mementos of this historic visit to the Conclave area.

Now, standing in the St. Peter’s square or piazza I looked at the balcony of the Basilica to test my newly bought binoculars. Some days back I had gone up to the roof of the basilica to examine the marvels of its architecture. As a student and teacher of art and architecture this exercise has always given me immense pleasure. On this occasion however I had another motive also. I had always wanted to touch the thin white pipe that would inform the world the election or non-election of a Pope. So with the intention of touching the pipe I approached it. But many wooden barricades had been erected to prevent just such an attempt. While I proceeded towards the pipe disregarding the barricades I could see from the corner of my eye a policeman coming towards me to prevent my proceeding further. Pretending not to see the arm of the law coming nearer and nearer and now shouting something very loud, I walked quickly to the pipe and touched it. Turning around I saw the furious policeman who immediately caught hold of my arms. I innocently asked him in Malayalam what the matter was. He shouted again. I repeated my question in Malayalam again. Then in broken - very broken - English I told him I could not understand what he was saying. In despair he brought me out beyond the mobile barricades and pushed me in the direction of the staircase and shouted something like GOOOO! That was a week ago

Now I was standing in the square or piazza looking at the balcony of the Basilica and the Sistine roof. Suddenly the tip of the pipe began to spit white smoke. The crowd began a deafening non-stop shout “Bianca! Bianca!” It’s white, it’s white. “We Have a New Pope! We Have a New Pope!” Tens of thousands were soon concentrating their attention on the balcony where the new Pope’s name would be announced and where the Pope himself would eventually appear. But within twenty-four minutes of the election of the Pope Osservatore Romano the official organ of the Vatican came out at 6.43 p.m. carrying a half-page picture of the new Pope. I bought a copy from the boy selling the paper like hot cakes among the crowd to see who had been finally elected. To my surprise I saw the lonely hero of my photograph keenly looking at me from the front page. He was the new Pope. But I didn’t know until then the name or country of Karol Joseph Woyitila. Even when Cardinal Felici announced the name in sonorous Latin very few in the crowd could recognize it. Once again the Italian adage was proved true: “He who goes into the Conclave Pope comes out Cardinal” - and the last and very least became the first, a Polaco, a non-Italian in 400 years, that too from the underground of a communist country - from the fourth world, so to say - as had happened to Anthony Quinn as Kiril Cardinal Lakota in the Holywood version of The Shoes of the Fisherman.

The huge lamps of the Vatican Palace and the Propaganda College started to flood the St. Peter’s Square, together with the huge Roman moon lighting up the whole area and converting night into day. By this time the crowd had swelled to some two hundred thousand souls filling the whole square and the Via De La Conciliazione up to river Tiber. It was another half an hour before the Pope appeared on the balcony to give his blessing Urbi et Orbi - to the City and to the World. Before giving that Latin blessing he talked to the people in simple Italian - to their great delight and to the displeasure of the Curia officials. ‘Viva il Papa’ Long Live the Pope, the crowd shouted again and again. ‘ Polonnia! Polonnia!’ Poland, Poland. Bearing witness to the birth of a new era the bells in the four hundred churches of Rome began to ring, led by the eleven ton Kanchenone of the St. Peter’s Basilica.

Morning. When I came to see Cardinal Parecattil once again at the hospital Gianicolo where he used to stay when in Rome I showed him the pictures I had taken. Of himself, Lourdsamy, Picachy and the new Pope as they were arriving at the courtyard entrance of the basilica. He couldn’t believe that I had taken a picture of the Pope before the election, because nobody thought he would be elected.

It was in a way my visit to Cardinal Parecattil at Ernakulam to bid him bon voyage that was the occasion for my deciding to go to Rome. Bishop Sebastian Mankuzhikkary who knew the Cardinal’s affection for me jokingly said to me then, ‘Are you not going with the Cardinal to Rome?’ I replied, ‘ I will go if he takes me with him.’ Of course the picture of many cardinals during previous elections taking an assistant with them came to my mind – that was not possible now after Pope Paul the Sixth had forbidden the custom in his directions for the papal election. After the departure of the Cardinal to the airport on his way to Rome for the election I brooded over the possibility of going to Rome for the election. I had read up so much on the election for many, many years that my desire to be in Rome during an election had become something of an obsession with me. This was my last chance, I thought.

Fortunately for me the largest circulated daily of Kerala and India agreed to part finance my expenses and what is more to publish my reports from the Vatican – if in fact they reached India in time – chances for which were quite nonexistent in those days. When I told Bishop Kundukulam of Trichur and others the same day about my desire they all encouraged me very much in this matter. And so I arrived in Rome just two days after the Cardinal’s arrival, which itself was a miracle – what with visa regulations, reservation hitches and what not. He was very glad to see me there. I was able to meet him there often and learn about the discussions among the Cardinals about the forthcoming election. Cardinal Picachy and Archbishop Lourdusamy also talked to me often. It all helped me to send relevant reports to India.

After meeting every Cardinal individually and after meeting the heads and representatives of the various countries who had arrived to congratulate the new Pope His Holiness gave an audience to the Press on the eve of the “Coronation”, to which not only the 1300 journalists with Vatican’s accreditation but many more were invited. While waiting at the bottom of the Great Staircase leading to the hall in the Vatican Palace where the audience was to take place somebody who appeared to know me told me from behind to proceed. I didn’t know why I should try to go before the others. Any way I tried. But the two Swiss Guards stopped me with their extended spears. Picp& +caption Dejected, I climbed down the steps. Then somebody from the Oriental Congregation appeared from behind the Swiss Guards from near the audience hall and beckoned me. Though the guards protested at first finally they allowed me to go up, also possibly because they were amused at my timidity. When I entered the hall many seats were already taken by officials and so on. The bearded official from the Congregation was leading me in when a Rev. Sr. took me under her charge and led me to the benches. She sat at the aisle end of one bench. When I tried to take the seat by her side she asked me to take the seat behind her. At that time I took it as an insult. (My 1972 experiences of segregationist attitude in the New York Sub-Way were only too strong in my mind.) But she only smiled. She was the official on Radio Vatican who was in charge of all the Polish programmes, and as such was very familiar with the new Pope as he used to give many talks to his people in communist Poland over Radio Vatican. She was a close friend and room-mate or something of the Rev. Sister in charge of the Indian programmes and hence had seen me often at the Radio Station. That was why she took me under her charge. When the Pope finally came into the hall and was proceeding to the rostrum he looked in our direction, and seeing the Polish nun came towards us. He came and stood in front of us and began to talk to the Rev. Sr. Although the well-built ecclesiastic who was the Pope’s body guard tried to prevent it I shook hands with the Pontiff. The Sr. whispered to me, “Say something to the Pope, you may never get such a chance in your whole life.” I gathered all my courage, and in spite of the tough body guard’s piercing looks, asked the Pope:” Your predecessor Pope Paul the Sixth did not come to Kerala when he came to India, though there is an Apostolic Church there. Will Your Holiness visit Kerala?” I completed the question somehow. I do not know whether the Holy Father heard or understood me fully. But he replied in perfect English, “Why Not?” That was quite enough for me, and for the body-guard too I suppose because he whisked the Pope away towards the rostrum with all his might.

After that the next day’s Mass for the Commencement of the Ministry and “Coronation” - the term is no more used and the three tiered crown is no more seen - was not such a great treat though it was pleasant to watch the whole function on the steps of the Basilica’s facade from the vantage point of the balconies over the Bernini columns in the company of great journalists from the world over.

Why was Cardinal Woitila so late that day on which the Conclave began? Why was he so tired-looking? These questions troubled my mind often in the next several years whenever I looked at the rare Photo that I had published in some papers and at the Vatican accreditation card and all those other rare and wonderful press cards I was lucky to draw.

Then I went to Rome once again in 1985. I had an appointment with the chief of the Vatican Museums. I had persuaded him to allow me to take the photographs of the hundred odd statues of almost all the popular Hindu Gods and Goddesses that the ethnological museum possessed for my Indology volume (i.e. of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India). Such an exhaustive collection I hadn’t seen in India even. But when I arrived in the museum for the final sanction the director was absent. However he had made arrangements for me to meet his assistant Msgr. Pankowiski, who was from Poland. To curry favor with him I told him that I had organised much of the Malankara Golden Jubilee Exhibition at Kottayam in 1980 that was inaugurated by the Polish Cardinal Rubin, and a large picture of the Polish Cardinal had been displayed by us in the exhibition hall which is today the home of the St. Ephraem Ecumenical Research Institute. Then I told him jokingly that I was the only journalist who knew a Polaco would be elected to the Holy See, and I told him the story of the late-coming Cardinal Woitiva and my taking his photo. The asst. director jumped up from his seat and told me the following interesting story breathlessly gesticulating and standing all the time.

“Do you know why he was late that day?” I said I did not know. Then he said: “ You know he is a great devotee of the blessed Virgin Mary, like most of us Poles.”

That was quite true. Most Poles gift you pictures of our lady of Chestochowa, as the Rev. Sr. from radio Vatican had done when we met during the Papal audience for journalists.” Almost the whole weekend before the commencement of the Conclave ( the Msgr. continued) the cardinal was away at the Mountain Shrine of Mary at Mentorella, praying for the Church to get a Good Shepherd at the election. On the morning of the Conclave after the prayers he stood talking to a Polish monk there for a few minutes. So when he came to the valley climbing down two miles the only bus to Rome had already gone. Rome was far away and he had to reach Rome before the doors of the Conclave were locked. Then he got a bus but it broke down some thirty miles away from Rome. (Cardinal Woitiva travelled only by bus, and always wore only tattered old black clothes.) There was no other bus. As directed by a sympathetic villager he approached the driver of an unused bus who was on holiday and told him his plight. The driver felt pity for the Cardinal and took him to the Vatican, the Msgr. concluded. Now I understood why he was late that morning and also why he looked so tired and depressed. Only then did I understand the reason why the Pope soon after his election flew to Mentorella in a helicopter (not in a bus this time!) to venerate the little wooden statue of Mary there.

That journey was the prologue to the new Pope’s many journeys to destinations beyond the Vatican and Rome, even to the ends of the world.

Contact me if necessary: geormena@sancharnet.in or geormena@md3.vsnl.net.in
OR Browse: http://www.indianchristianity.com or http://education.vsnl.com/thomapedia
My profile: http://www.indianchristianity.com/html/profile.htm
My parish: http://www.ollurchurch.com
My Archdiocese: http://www.archdioceseoftrichur.com
My Church: http://www.thesyromalabarchurch.org
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India: http://www.cbci.org/
The Holy See: http://www.vatican.va/

Posted By : Prof. George Menachery on May 10, 2005 *

Comments :
JOHN PAUL II
At the Beginning and End of His Ministry as Pope

Prof. George Menachery

This Pope-Watcher is struck by the contrast between the Pope when he was elected in 1978 and the pitiable yet unyielding John Paul II as he came through in TV clippings towards the end of his life.

The healthy robust figure of the mountain-climbing, kayak-rowing, play-acting, quarry-working Karol Joseph Cardinal Woyityla had impressed me immensely then in October 1978, both on the day the conclave started (Oct. 14.) and on the day he was elected Pope(Oct.16) and finally and especially on the day of the commencement of his ministry (Oct.22) and also in the following days and years.

Ever since he was admitted to the Gemelli Hospital at the beginning of February (2005) the BBC and the CNN - as well as other channels - had been giving a large amount of space to Pope John Paul II. The scene shown a few days before his demise where the doves refused to leave the pontiff alone in his room, and the scene broadcast again and again by the channel where the frail pontiff blesses the cardinals and the people with great difficulty naturally reminds one of the contrast between the John Paul II of 1978 and of recent months. These scenes brought to my memory the Pope energetically and enthusiastically parading the thirty-two steps of the portico of the St. Peter s Basilica in 1978, lightly carrying the heavy ( ten pounds) cross of the universal shepherd during the ceremonny for the commencement of his papal ministry when he was elected Pope at the age of fifty six.

However the Pope s refusal to surrender to sickness or death without a fight is a very miracle that exhibits his pro-life attitude much more strongly than his remarkably strong words and encyclicals, his books and articles.

To tell others how to suffer is easy enough, but John Paul showed in his life how one could convert suffering forming part of doing one's duty into a real joy - and how a Christian aught to suffer until the very end in a spirit of serenity and gladness. Hours before his death the youth of Rome and the world were singing and praying for the pope in the St. Peter s square. The Pope told the cardinal who was visiting him, All my life I was searching and seeking for the young people. Now they have come searching for me. . The days and years the Pope had spent in the company of the youth - singing, dancing, kayaking, skiing, ...he was showing that his hope for the Church was in the youth. And at the end the youth showed how they took him for a real companion and a friend and guide.

Again , hours before his death he summoned all the rev. sisters who were in the service of the papal household. And he admonished them saying There must be no tears . And the lakhs and lakhs of people who assembled in the Square during the last days of John Paul and during the burial services often danced and sang and clapped their hands - so much so Cardinal Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) had a hell of a time trying to complete his funeral oration, as we all saw. It was a living demonstration for John Donne's poem "Death be not proud", who's afraid of you.

The huge crowd of heads of states (a president and two ex-presidents of the US among them) who attended the funeral ceremonies were doing
so not simply due to poitical custom, but because they felt here indeed was a person who was larger than life.

[For some of the changes made by John Paul II, and his predecessors in the secret election processes at the Vatican cf. the article Electing a New Pope: The Conclave and All That...by Prof. Menachery, vide supra]

Posted By : Prof. George Menachery on May 10, 2005 *

Posted By : Dolores Luna on May 07, 2005 *
Comments : If you want to know John Paul 2, the man and the Pope, read his biography "Witness to Hope" by George Weigel. You will then understand why the Pope is so loved and why he will remain alive in our hearts. You will also get some insight on Pope Benedict XV1.

Posted By : joshua (10) on May 07, 2005 *
Comments : we love and miss you.god be with you...

Posted By : brandon on May 06, 2005 *
Comments : hes in a good place now

Posted By : Dolores LUna on May 06, 2005 *

Comments :
Since your death I have been reading your biography, "Witness to Hope". I
have experienced your childhood sorrows and struggles as a young priest, later as a Bschop and now as Jphn Paul 2.
I feel spiritually connected to you. I have experienced your sorrows and your happiness and have cried with you.
I never had the opportunity while you were alive to meet you or to listen to your homilies
I missed so much and I miss you
now.

Dolores

Posted By : isis on May 06, 2005 *
Comments : i love him he is the best in the world

Posted By : Rick on May 06, 2005 *

Comments :
This is incredible. I will pray for anyone who makes a statement like the post I've read below on this guestbook, and this is my response:

Are you insane?? You "worship" the Pope??? This is COMPLETELY against the ten commandments "Thou shalt not put any other God's before me" or "Thou shalt not worship any graven images." The POPE is a HUMAN BEING. You are insulting the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ by comparing the Pope to him. Please read the Bible, and pray. I will pray for you. I can't believe you've stated that the Pope is the re-birth of Jesus Christ on Earth. Jesus Christ was a man but he is also GOD. He is the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. He came to this Earth bearing NO SIN, at ALL, and he was only man of the flesh, but of the spirit he is GOD. The Pope was a Sinner, like all the rest of us. The Bilbe says "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The Pope is no different. I really feel disturbed that you would actually post something on a public website stating that you "worship" the Pope and think he is the rebirth of Jesus. I will pray for you.

God Bless,

Rick Miesse
Dayton, Ohio

Posted By : Sister Angela on May 06, 2005 *

Comments :
Beloved In Christ,

Calvary greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am Sister Angela Adiele, a widow to Late Sherrif
Adiele, I am 70years old, I am now a new Christian convert,suffering from long time cancer of the breast.
From all indications, my condition is serious and according to my doctor it is quite obvious that I may not survive the sickness,although as a
christain,I believe God and I know that I will not die,I will live to declare the
glory of God. My late husband and my only son was killed during the Ogoni
Crisis and I am presently living alone.Our Lord Jesus Christ is my only
comforter. My late husband was very wealthy we have a lot of properties including Shares and houses.After the death of my husband,I made up my
mind to travel abroad to live the rest of my life and continue to do the
work of God as a Missionary.I called our lawyer and I instructed him to sell all my
husband's properties and shares to enable me raise some money to continue
my mission.The lawyer sold the Shares and some of the properties and I was able
raise the sum of $20,000,000.00 (twenty million US Dollars)The fund is in cash. For
the safety of the fund till am able to travel out, I packaged the fund in
consignments and deposited it with a Security Company. Presently,all the documents concerning the
consignments are with my lawyer.Now that my sickness has gone to this stage, I am scared
and I want the fund to be used for the work of God all over the world. I
had prayed and I told God to direct me to an honest Christian who will
receive these funds and utilise it for things that will glorify the name of
God. After my prayers,I searched the christain site in the internet,I found your
email address and I decided to contact you.Please if you are interested
in using these funds for the work of God, please send to me your full names
and address to enable me give it to my lawyer for immediate arrangement
with the Security Company on how the consignments that contained the funds
will be delivered to you. I await your urgent reply. Thanks and God bless you.

Sister Angela Adiele.

Posted By : Bernard Sciberras on May 04, 2005 *
Comments : You'll always be in our hearts.. Rest in Peace dear Father.. Thanks for visiting MALTA and honoured us with your presence .... THANKS!!!!!

Posted By : Bernard Sciberras on May 04, 2005 *
Comments : You'll always be in our hearts.. Rest in Peace dear Father.. Thanks for visiting MALTA and honoured us with your presence .... THANKS!!!!!

Posted By : daniel on May 04, 2005 *
Comments : Good luck pope

Posted By : hannah on May 04, 2005 *
Comments : i think this site is good and i hope the pope will r.i.p love hannah

Posted By : Stamina Chukwuali on May 04, 2005 *
Comments : My words is that his holiness is a man of thougt (ie) he is a man with understanding been directed by God to sever his people and he did the work of he that sent him .I pray that God will take him in his bosom.and also pray for prole of the world wiil emulate him set peace b/w them self thank U .hoping to get reply from U soon.

Posted By : Aldo Ortiz on May 03, 2005 *
Comments : You'll be greatly missed. You have been a blessing in our lifes. You came and change the world, just like our Jesus Lord did many years ago. You'll be greatly missed.

Posted By : Landry on May 03, 2005 *
Comments : I AM ORPHAN AND I LOOKING FOR SUPPORT.

Posted By : aneta paszek on May 02, 2005 *

Comments :
Thank you for ever thing that you did for this world god bless you and many more i was always wondering what it would be like to be a pope now your not here and the world is in pain.but like they say when you come in the world ever one around you is happy but when you leave the world ever one is crying that why when you died ever one was crying for you other wise if you were here ever one would be happy to see you but god needed you and life is like a puzzle you put the peices togeter and you find out what's going to happen as you go! I LOVE YOU and really miss you

Posted By : Lavinia Camacho & family (Chile) on May 02, 2005 *
Comments : We worship the Pope. He is the Great and maybe the rebirth of Jesus on Earth. We will never forget him.

Posted By : m.japanese on May 01, 2005 *
Comments : too late to post... Rest in peace

Posted By : Tomi Roškarič on Apr 30, 2005 *
Comments : Very nice website! God bless all your nobel endeavours!

Posted By : obinna uwalaka on Apr 29, 2005 *
Comments : father i have being sick in some aspect pls bless me so that i will prosper in jesus in.

Posted By : sunil joseph on Apr 29, 2005 *
Comments : hello my name is sunil joseph and i live in Pakistan (Lahore). my request is my girlfriend his name is Nida she is angry with me for last 7 or 8 months i give a sorry but say no want to Accept please pray for me She come back in my live please pray for me ok

Posted By : allan on Apr 27, 2005 *
Comments : rest in peace and may god open his arms to recieve you in heaven

Posted By : Rick from Ohio on Apr 27, 2005 *

Comments :
I can't believe what I'm reading. I am not judging anyone, because the Bible strictly tells us not to judge one another, however, the Bible also speaks of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who IS the GREATEST MAN who HAS EVER SET FOOT ON THIS EARTH. He was not only man, but he was also God, and he came to this Earth to die for our sins so that we may be saved and live with him eternally in heaven! When I read this passage I have copied a pasted below, I feel saddenned because it seems many people of the Roman Catholic faith have been deceived. The only truth is the WORD OF GOD, the Bible. The Popes, anyone of them for that matter, are just like us, which is men and women of sin. The Bible tells us that "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." This doesn't exclude the Pope or any other religious figure, regardless of their faith. The Bible also tells us to freely pray to our LORD in Heaven, and says that our only true Holy Father is Jesus Christ, our Lord. So hence, calling a mere mortal human being "Holy Father" is against all Biblical teachings. Also, the last thing Jesus said before he ascended back into Heaven after his resurrection was "Go unto the world and preach the gospel". He didn't tell just men to do it, he didn't tell just women or children to do it, he didn't tell certain races or religions to do it, he told US ALL to do it. So this brings forth yet another problem with the RC church. They do not allow women to preach the Word of God, which is wrong. The Bible tells us to love one another, and also love our enemies. Why isn't the Bible used that much in the Catholic faith?? Why is it that only a priest or high authority can read the Bible to people who follow him? Why is it that prayers in the Catholic faith are "Scripted" for lack of a better term??? The Bible tells us to pray to the Lord abundantly, and whenever we need to, and for whatever we would like to pray to him about. It does not tell us to pray only "certain" prayers, as the RC Church does. I just don't understand it. I am not judging, there are alot of very Christian Catholics out there, but there also seems to be a great deceiving presence in the RC Church. Please read this post by a prior visitor on this guestbook, he's actually stating that Pope John Paul II was the greatest man who's ever lived!!! I ask you everyone, what about Jesus Christ!!

Here's the post:

Posted By : Thanh on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments :
He was the best man that ever live.We will never forget about him even though he gone...we will always remember him as a kind man that help millions people all over the world..even if they was jew and etc. He will always be in our heart...he gone but never forgotten...he still here with us....right now...he looking down at the world and smiling at us

Posted By : Art on Apr 26, 2005 *

Comments :
What can I say about this amazing man. He was Pope since I was 10 years old. He has touched my life, and the lives of Christian and non Christian people around the world. This man transended Religion, race, and social classes.
The world, and the Church, will never ben the same again...Ever. This man is an Icon of love the world over. It doesn't seem right to see another Pope in his place. John Paul 2 can never be replaced in our hearts. Even though I have never met you Holy Father...I love you, and every wonderful thing you stand for. I know that you are with our Lord, and praying for us all.

Posted By : bob on Apr 26, 2005 *
Comments : he is a a very hearty pope cause of those chives.

Posted By : christina poscablo diaz on Apr 26, 2005 *
Comments : i havent choosen what religion i want to be but all i know is that i love god no matter what i choose to be and my prince pope jhon will always remain in my prayers as well as in my heart and soul god bless all....amen

Posted By : christy on Apr 26, 2005 *
Comments : we have lost a good shepered who worked for unity of the world

Posted By : Emma Tanner on Apr 26, 2005 *
Comments : According to me, Pope John Paul II is the only pope I really knew.He was a people's pope.May His Soul Rest in peace.I truly believe that the Vatican has made the right choice by electing Joseph Ratzinger as the new pope.I just hope with all my heart that Pope John Paul II will be known henceforth as Pope John Paul The Great.He is truly the Greatest Pope that ever lived.

Posted By : Anastasia Koutsochilis on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : Not until his last few weeks did I really learn to understand who this amazing man had always been. Many life changing moments have taken place in our world these last few years, losing Pope John Paul II is a loss greatly felt by many whatever religious belief one holds. We are never alone.

Posted By : GLORIA WESLEY on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : GOD BLESS AND KEEP POPE JOHN PAUL. I KNOW HE WILL BE A SAINT. WISH THERE WAS MORE INFO ON ALL THE POPES.

Posted By : Guz on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : A great Pope would have been one that embraces all people. This one recognized you if you weren't gay; not a women wanting to spread the Lord's word in the Catholic church; How dare he tell people who they can and can't love. How dare he live in opulance while so many starve. The hipocracy of the RC church continues. Wake up fools.

Posted By : Mary Ann Martin on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : I am so happy that Pope Benedict XVI is our new Pope. Pope John Paul II was a truly wonderful Pope and touched our hearts. Pope Paul's death left a deep hole in my heart, but I know that Pope Benedict XVI will touch us all and I believe he will continue to lead the Catholic church and reach the young people with his strong donctine. May Jesus be with Pope Benedict XVI.

Posted By : norma hernandez on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : he is special still live in ours lives

Posted By : Yarra Fong on Apr 25, 2005 *
Comments : This man has changed my life. I had only realized how amazing he was until after his death. He is a great loss for our Catholic Community and he is with the Father now,he is finally at peace

Posted By : ceal on Apr 24, 2005 *
Comments : hey im doing a project on Pope John Paul he was a special part of this community and it was a very sad day when he paased away, which was a day before my birthday which is even more sad. well wanted to leave my lOve<3 --and i jus want to SAy that he was a great pope and i dont know why they got a 78 yr old pope (benidict) well thats all bye (bonjourno)

Posted By : Lexi on Apr 24, 2005 *
Comments : I'm sure Benedict XVI will do a great job , but I can't help myself. I miss John Paul so much. He was a truly great man and he will always stay in my heart. Thank you for your love.

Posted By : JOSEPH GAFFARENA on Apr 23, 2005 *
Comments : a great pope that inspired us all with courage, hope and love for each oither, nomatter what our religion is

Posted By : Maria Regina on Apr 23, 2005 *
Comments : Thank you for your Life and your Love, Holy Father. Bless us always. Amen.

Posted By : UCHENNA ORJI on Apr 23, 2005 *
Comments : when was the new pope born

Posted By : ajuscaria on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : very important website/thank you/god bless you...

Posted By : Fran McKay-Catholic School Teacher on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : The 6th and 7th grades Religion classes of Saint Mary's School in New Monmouth,NJ in the USA wish you the very best on your new reign as Pope Benedict XVI.Our prayers are with you!!!

Posted By : Gloria Jean Mendoza on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : Pope John Paul ll God Bless You and rest in peace

Posted By : Gloria Jean Mendoza on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : I want to learn and know more about my pope by doing this I will learn and know more about my Catholic church. I believe in God and all the saint's oh yes of course the angels. please teach me . thank you gloria mendoza

Posted By : Heather on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : Pope John Paul ll was a great man and will be missed by all. Rest In Peace.

Posted By : jacquilin john on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : The world has lost a warrior of peace.He had a mighty weapon called 'love' to surrender every soul.

Posted By : jagdeep singh on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : please help me father help me worldwide

Posted By : Jannette boncay on Apr 22, 2005 *

Comments :
I have high respect to this Man, John Paul II, he will be missed , but it's time for him to rest and surely he will be a Saint soon and he will always guide and pray for all of us. JPII has the charm, everytime I see him tears are coming automatically in my eyes for unknown reason..maybe because he is so holy and humble and has a very good aura. I love you Pope John Paull II and good luck to pope Benedict XVI, it will be hard to surpass JPII's legacy but I know God will guide you.

Posted By : Jannette boncay on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : I love John paul II the greatest Pope ever, a humble man and good servant of man. Please always pray for peace and unity in this world. You are an inspiration to many.

Posted By : Margaret Bass on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : TO ALL WOM READ THIS I AS MANY WAS TRULY BLESSED FOR KNOWING THE HOLY FATHER NOW PRAY FOR THE NEW HOLY FATHER GOD BLESS LOVE PEGGY

Posted By : Mota Singh Jheeta on Apr 22, 2005 *

Comments :
Being a Sikh I wish to congratulate the newly elected Pope Benedict XVI. I sincerely hope that Pope Benedict will continue the great work initiated by late Pope John Paul in brining the world community closer to each other irrespect of its religious beliefs. I hope Pope Benedict will stand tall for the protection of human rights around the world. Sprituality is the ultimate answer to protect humanity, create love and respect for all. May the almighty bless the new Pope Benedict with good health and ample of strength to serve in the interest of all religions.

Posted By : Thanh on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : He was the best man that ever live.We will never forget about him even though he gone...we will always remember him as a kind man that help millions people all over the world..even if they was jew and etc. He will always be in our heart...he gone but never forgotten...he still here with us....right now...he looking down at the world and smiling at us.

Posted By : Vincent micky on Apr 22, 2005 *
Comments : please show me the picture of the people is replace pop john paul 2

Posted By : Ally on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : The Pope Was Great He Was The Best Pope Ever

Posted By : bob on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : Pope John Paul II is the biggest Catholic BEST ever!

Posted By : Brandon Bowen on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : You were the great pope ever.

Posted By : ever carbonell on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : ONE OF THE BEST POPE EVER, very humble honest and agreat human being

Posted By : fred on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : pope is a world wide good fello i heard on da site dat he luved those chives

Posted By : Jordan Sattaur on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : hi i love pope john paul bye

Posted By : paul dizon on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : a great loss for all catholic, a pope who never discremanete other religious group. a pope iwith a strong charisma

Posted By : Sarah-Elizabeth on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : Rest in peace pope john paul ! Everything you did was to help others no words can say how much you ment to everyone ! People from every where came to see you. You will be missed dearly. Name : Sarah Age : 14 Location :England (Kent)

Posted By : tori ireland on Apr 21, 2005 *
Comments : Pope Jhon Paul was inspiring to me i mean all thoose things he did even with a very scary disese

Posted By : austine on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : i want to have the email address of the catholic in romepls be fast to send it

Posted By : Chris Charron on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : Pope John Paul Was A Brave Man And Pope May He Be Rememberd In Our Hearts Forever

Posted By : Courtney Hall on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : I have a ? about pjp2! I have to do a report in him and one of my ? asks "who is one of his favorite saints?" can u help me?

Posted By : Devin Cassidy on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : JPII I Miss You!!! I sit here crying for my dearly departed Pontiff!

Posted By : Dianna Morgan on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : Please Help I am doing a essay on Why did the late pope john paul have so much influance on catholic and non catholics

Posted By : jessica on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : i just want to say even though i never meet him in person he was i very powerful man who loved ervryone. for that we are thankful.

Posted By : kayode balewa familoni on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : Dear sir, I wish to congratulate his eminence, Pope Benedict on his new exalted position as the Pope of the christian and Roman Catholic world. Indeed, his values are long overdue and I wish the pope many more years in the propagation of catholism and christianity in Europe, Africa and worldwide. Once again congratulations sir Kayode Balewa Familoni usa

Posted By : MARIO CARUANA on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : Pope John Paul II was a RICH person but not in terms of earthly possessions. He was rich in LOVE, SPIRITUALITY and FORGIVENESS and because he shared these with all the people, he has managed to make the world richer.

Posted By : Mary Ann Maycen on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : I want to express my congratulations to our new Pope. Welcome Pope Benedict XV1. I know you will continue the conservative teachings of the Roman Catholic Church . God has surely blessed us a second time in choosing you to take care of his flock. May God watch over you and I wish you good health . God Bless you- Mary Ann Maycen, Kyle, Texas

Posted By : Ola on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : John Paul II is my idol. He is one of the greatest popes in the world. For all he done in our lives we could say"Thankyou"

Posted By : Oonagh on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : God bless Pope John Paul and please watch over us all. I pray that the new pope will make changes for the best, changes that will make this world a better place where people can live together as friends.

Posted By : peterscott ellison-angelo on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : miss you much

Posted By : regina on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : you are sadley missed.

Posted By : velva randolph on Apr 20, 2005 *
Comments : Rest in Peace Holy Father

Posted By : Amanda U. on Apr 19, 2005 *

Comments :
Oh my god, I can't believe Pope John Paul II died on April 2nd, 2005 on a Saturday. I was shocked when I found out about it. I did kept on doing the updates almost all the time to see how he is doing but now he is up in Heaven with God. His real name is Karol Jszef Wojtyla. As you guys probably don't know, I'm a Catholic! I'm proud to be a Catholic! I sure do know that the wolrd will be miss by him greatly indeed, I will miss him also. But oh well, that's life you know. We will never forget this great Pope in history!

(f) :( R.I.P. Pope John Paul II (f) :( - died on April 2, 2005 on a Saturday and he was 84 years old. In memory of Pope John Paul II (1920-2005). I love you Pope John Paul II!!! :)

Posted By : anna on Apr 19, 2005 *

Comments :
almost everyone on here uses big words or atleast some i dont understand.so in words that everyone understands the Pope was a good man,a caring person,a religious idol.and my role model. hopefully u feel the same way.im 11 and i went to a catholic school for 5 years. i love/loved jPope John Paul ll. this new pope will be great,im sure.but i am surei speak for everyone when i say that this is going to be hard getting used to a new man in the popes position.

Posted By : Bobby Lerma on Apr 19, 2005 *
Comments : Desde Mexico!!!! Viva El Papa John Pablo II