Thank you for the reminder. JPII made so many pilgrimages during his pontificate but this last visit to Lourdes, as you have indicated, was perhaps the most poignant.
Posted on 04/01/2006 1:58:34 PM PST by NYer
VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- While tens of thousands crowded St. Peter's Square for the ailing Pope John Paul II this time last year, those closest to the pope gathered around his bedside, bidding farewell to their mentor and leader of the church. They all say he was conscious to the end, and that among his last requests was, "Read me the Bible."
Pope John Paul II died a year ago Sunday, after 26 years as the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its one billion followers. As the anniversary of the death of this much beloved figure approached, CNN obtained rare access to the Vatican and those closest to the pope during his final hours. They offered insight into the final moments of John Paul II and his living legacy.
The pope was heartened by the crowds of people praying for him outside and across the world, giving him strength on his final journey: "He knew he wasn't alone. He was going to meet God with this great crowd behind him," said Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the pope's personal secretary and friend of nearly 40 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
I think CNN is playing this more than once.
I watched last night.
Seeing the clip of him in his physical suffering at Lourdes with other disabled people was very moving.
Wow!
Saw a DVD aboiut him the other night. What an attrative person he was. He drew people to him.
Thank you for the reminder. JPII made so many pilgrimages during his pontificate but this last visit to Lourdes, as you have indicated, was perhaps the most poignant.
C'mon, you know you can't get around the exceprting rules by posting the rest of the article in a reply.
"They all say he was conscious to the end, and that among his last requests was, "Read me the Bible."
May we all, at the end of our days, cling to the immovable rock of God's Word.
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