Cardinal: Pope in "a bad way"

Reuters/Fox News ^

[Dog]

German Cardinal Says Pope 'In a Very Bad Way' Tue September 30, 2003 08:23 AM ET BERLIN (Reuters) - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the German head of the Vatican body which oversees doctrinal matters, was quoted on Tuesday as saying Pope John Paul was in very poor health and the faithful should pray for him. "He is in a very bad way," Ratzinger told Germany's Bunte magazine in an interview. "We should pray for the pope."

Ratzinger, who heads the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told the magazine that the 83-year-old pope had taken on too much, but he was unable to stop him.

The increasingly frail pope was particularly weak earlier this month on a trip to Slovakia and needed help reading his sermons. Last week, he skipped his general audience because of what the Vatican said was an intestinal problem.

Ratzinger's private secretary, Georg Gaenswein, said it was amazing how the pope, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, kept going.

"He can't walk and stand anymore but he is a hero for the faithful. The fact that he doesn't give up despite his illness makes him even more credible," Gaenswein told Bunte.

He said the pope would not give up traveling. "When he is no longer allowed to travel, then dear God will come for him," Gaenswein said.

The leader of the world's one billion Roman Catholics, who marks his 25th anniversary next month, appointed 31 new cardinals on Sunday, possibly putting his last stamp on the group that will one day choose his successor.

[Frank_2001]

Amen.

[nmh]

I'm sorry but I find it a tad sadistic to parade a man who is clearly failing fast. There is no dignity or respect for the individual in doing that. It accomplishes the opposite.

I'm not Catholic since I am Bible based however even from a secular perspective it is cruel. God's will be accomplished whether this man is paraded around or given some dignity through acknowledging that he is not up to the task anymore and letting him rest in private.

Thanks though for the other perspective.

[Int]

Ramadan features the extraordinary double eclipse this year.

"extraordinary double eclipse" - what's that about?

[Conservative til I die]

My friend, who is an atheist, nevertheless thinks it will be exciting for the both of us, 26 years old to be able to witness all that goes along with the conclaves that vote for the next Pope. As much as I will be saddened by Pope John Paul II's passing, I agree.

[Conservative til I die]

F U

[Conservative til I die]

1) When you're Pope you're Pope for life. Popes voluntarily stepping down has happened, but we're talking several centuries since the last time it happened. It would be shameful.

2) This Pope doesn't want to step down.

3) Are you saying the Pope posesses no dignity? Why? Because he's old? Because he's disabled?

You know, the atheists and pro-death folks would agree with you. The Pope uses his disabilities preceisely to illustrate the dignity that all people posess. Even the crippled and old.

[Conservative til I die]

As for a successor, while the Cardinals tend to be a bit quirky in their choices (usually doing the opposite of what you might think they would do), the Pope has benefitted from his long reign. Something like 95% of the Cardinals that can vote were appointed by him. Most of those are conservatives. He's stacked the deck.

[Conservative til I die]

Speaking of Rigalli, the Pope did say somewhat recently that his successor had not yet been appointed a Cardinal. Hmmm....

[Conservative til I die]

Isn't he thinking of St Malachi (?) and his prophecies, regarding the Pope after the next Pope being the last? If I am not mistaken, he would be named Pope Peter.

[Palladin]

You forgot #9:

The Cubs and the Red Sox finally made it into the playoffs.

[mlmr]

There are a lot of words I could use to describe this, sadistic is not one of them. What is so sadistic about have a man do whatever he can in his last days. May we all live our lives to the very end, doing what we like to do. The frail elderly do not have to be hidden away to make others comfortable...there is a lot to be learned, IMHO, from a man who's spirit shows so clearly through his failing body. I think there is a lot more dignity to it than the hiding away advocated by some. Part of aging is learning to lose one's capacities with grace. JPII has done this.

[mlmr]

There are a lot of words I could use to describe this, sadistic is not one of them. What is so sadistic about have a man do whatever he can in his last days. May we all live our lives to the very end, doing what we like to do. The frail elderly do not have to be hidden away to make others comfortable...there is a lot to be learned, IMHO, from a man who's spirit shows so clearly through his failing body. I think there is a lot more dignity to it than the hiding away advocated by some. Part of aging is learning to lose one's capacities with grace. JPII has done this.

[nmh]

You're certainly entitled to your opinon but even with a frail pet, I don't put him on display or expect him to frolic around outdoors. I let him live his last days with no pressure and accomodate his every need. For a human being, I can't imagine putting someone through what JP is going through.

Sometime ago another priest in NY, forget his name, was also "frail" - to the point where he was also falling over. It was sad to see a man deteriorating and on display for that reason. Maybe saidistic isn't the right word. Maybe cruel and unusual punishment fits better.

[nmh]

"1) When you're Pope you're Pope for life. Popes voluntarily stepping down has happened, but we're talking several centuries since the last time it happened. It would be shameful."

It would be shameful to continue this charade.

2) This Pope doesn't want to step down.

Sources say he is not coherent nor responsible for what he does. Atleast this is what a fellow Catholic O'Reilly says.

3) Are you saying the Pope posesses no dignity? Why? Because he's old? Because he's disabled?

When a human being is dying, as this man is, there is NO dignity in parading him around as though he was at the top of his game. It's cruel.

You know, the atheists and pro-death folks would agree with you. The Pope uses his disabilities preceisely to illustrate the dignity that all people posess. Even the crippled and old.

I am neither an atheist nor a pro death person. Name calling is even beneath you. He does not have a "disability". He is dying. Bet he won't last the year. Leave the guy alone and stop parading him around like a freak show.

[mlmr]

We disagree. The pope is doing his job. Your dog's job is not like the pope's job. If he wants to do this, why is it a big deal to you.

[Truth666]

"The next pope" - because people posessed by fear refuse to see reality label present as the future.

[Truth666]

"Pandering to scientists, in contradiction to the Word of God. (Giving room for his congregation to latch onto Theistic Evolution, which necessitates death before Adam, making death a natural occurrence rather than a choice of man, which eliminates the need for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ)."
1. First of all those aren't scientists, those are liars.
2. Evolution eliminates the need for God.

[bondserv]

Forgive me for offending. I regret my words, and lift up John Paul as a brother in Christ.

[bondserv]

The current Pope already has. The General Instruction to the Roman Missal states clearly that the purpose of the homily at Mass is to expound on the readings, and their application to living a Christian life. A priest who doesn't do that is violating his instructions already. My pastor is quite faithful about it.

This is great news. I pray you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Praise God that the Spirit is active in the Catholic Church today, brother. Forgive me if I have offended, I wouldn't want Christ to think I want to pick on His bride. I wouldn't want anyone picking on mine. :-)

[Aquinasfan]

We can be confident that what we read in the 66 books that were cannonized

73 books were canonized by the Council of Rome in A.D. 382 under Pope Damasus I. And that's how many books were in Guttenberg's Bible one thousand years later.

But Luther threw out seven books because of the reference in 2 Maccabees to Purgatory, thus creating his own canon of Scripture.

The new total: 66, an interesting number, since the number 6 in the Bible represents imperfection.