Account: Pope's Last Word Was 'Amen'

CNN ^ | Sunday, April 3, 2005

[West Coast Conservative]

An intimate group of people were by Pope John Paul II's bedside at the Vatican when he died Saturday night. Two accounts say the pontiff's final utterance was "amen," the traditional close of a prayer. The translation is: "May it be so."

One account, published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, quotes a Polish priest.

Another account was told by The Rev. David O'Connell, president of The Catholic University of America, while appearing on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

-SNIP-

BLITZER: Give us a little flavor of what we should expect in the next day or two as the preparations unfold for the funeral, which could be as early as Wednesday.

O'CONNELL: Well, you know, I was speaking with a cardinal friend of mine who was assigned in Rome this morning.

He told me a story -- if I might share it with you, Wolf, and with our viewers. He said that in the pope's last minutes he grasped the hand of Archbishop [Stanislaw] Dziwisz.

And looking out the window, the curtains were not drawn, he was looking out the window. And he said, "amen." And then he passed on -- beautiful, touching communication, a sense that it was finished, it was over.

And in the next few days what we're going to see is first a gathering of the general congregation of cardinals, those cardinals who are currently in Rome, the curial cardinals. And the others who join them there.

They will make the determination about the details of the funeral, when it will be held, and how they will proceed from there.

[sissyjane]

I am so tired of seeing cute pictures and begging for money on the threads about the death of my Pope...sigh....

[trussell]

They are automatically added to every thread by the system. There is really nothing that can be done about it.

If you want to get rid of them, help promote the freepathon. When it is over, the "cute pictures begging for money" will be gone.

[Jet Jaguar]

Jasna Gora Sanctuary in Czestochowa The holiest place of Poland and one of the world’s most important destinations for pilgrims. Every year several million pilgrims–commoners as well as celebrities–come here to pray before the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa. The faithful has believed for ages that St. Luke the Evangelist himself painted the divine icon on a tabletop from the Holy Family’s house.

A rumour has it that Pope John Paul II wanted to be buried at the site this artwork resides.

[Jet Jaguar]

better picture.

[maryz]

Thank you for posting the picture -- I've heard of it practically all my life, but I don't think I've seen it before.

[CyberAnt]

Amen = SO BE IT!

It's a declaration - not a question.

[Jet Jaguar]

My pleasure. I am learning much about the man and this caught my ear. So I looked into it.

Much more here.

http://www.google.com/search?q=%20Czestochowa&hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&safe=off&sa=N&tab=iw

[maryz]

Thank you again!

[ContraryMary]

Fox News just announced that the funeral will be Friday and he will be buried in the crypt beneath St. Peter's.

[Aquinasfan]

Fox News just announced that the funeral will be Friday and he will be buried in the crypt beneath St. Peter's.

I'm glad that he will be buried in Rome. It is in keeping with the idea of a universal Church.

I'm going to take Friday off to watch the funeral on TV with the wife and kids. Our priest recommended that parents keep children home from school to watch the funeral, if possible. I think that's a good recommendation.

[ContraryMary]

My son attends Catholic grade school. He will likely have the day off to watch the funeral.

[agere_contra]

I bet it won't be like Yasser's funeral.

[SuziQ]

Heard on the radio this morning that the funeral will be on Friday. Thankfully, our daughter's Writing Class was moved to Thursday morning for this week, so I'll be able to watch it.

Our Associate Pastor is in Rome this week. He had been on Sabbatical in the Holy Land since early January, and planned a stop-over in Rome on the trip home. He just happened to be there when the Pope took ill and died. He was supposed to fly home on Friday, I hope he'll be able to extend his stay in order to attend the funeral.

[myprecious]

Amen = SO BE IT!

I am glad the translation was provided. Most of the time we use the term to mean. "Goodbye, God", or " My mind has really wandered off from talking to you, Lord, so I am going to go now...."

[Ingtar]

I believe the funeral starts at 3 AM Eastern time.

[myprecious]

Amen = SO BE IT!

I am glad the translation was provided. Most of the time we use the term to mean. "Goodbye, God", or " My mind has really wandered off from talking to you, Lord, so I am going to go now...."

[myprecious]

Amen = SO BE IT!

I am glad the translation was provided. Most of the time we use the term to mean. "Goodbye, God", or " My mind has really wandered off from talking to you, Lord, so I am going to go now...."

[myprecious]

Wow. A delayed triple post. It takes skill to make a mistake of that caliber.

[Straight Vermonter]

Wow, good point!