VATICAN (voa) – The Vatican says Pope John Paul II’s after developing a high fever has past away on Saturday at 9:37 P.M. Rome time at his apartments in the Vatican. Pope John Paul’s dying message: I thank you.
Earlier Saturday, papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope was in what he called a “compromised state of consciousness” this morning – but said he is not in a coma.
Mr. Navarro-Valls, a physician himself, said the pope opens his eyes when spoken to, but also appears to be resting frequently with his eyes closed.
 |
John Paul II played a key role in the fall of communism and brought the Catholic message of peace to an unprecedented number of people around the world. – Photo by Adam Bujak |
He said Mass was celebrated Saturday “in the presence” of the pontiff, in contrast to Friday when he said the pope had participated in Mass.
The pope’s health deteriorated dramatically Thursday after he developed a urinary tract infection.
Pilgrims and faithful await word on Pope’s condition in St. Peter’s square, Saturday. Millions of Catholics around the world have joined in prayers for the pope. Thousands have gathered in St. Peter’s Square, under the pope’s window, in a constant vigil for the pope.
Following the death of a pope, the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meet in a session known as a conclave to elect a successor.
The conclave, derived from a Latin word meaning locked together, must begin between 15 and 20 days following a pope’s death.
The tradition of isolating the cardinals developed following a nearly three-year deadlock over a papal election in the 13th century. Church members, tired of waiting, locked the cardinals in a palace and removed the roof, forcing a quick election.
During the conclave, the 117 eligible cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel to vote four times a day, twice each in the morning and evening. Every time there is no winner, an official burns the ballots with a special chemical to produce black smoke that rises from a chimney above the chapel.
When the cardinals succeed, only the ballots are burned, sending white smoke rising from the chimney and signaling to the world that the 1.1 billion-member Roman Catholic Church has a new pontiff.
A senior cardinal then steps out onto the central balcony in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica and announces in Latin to thousands of the faithful assembled in the square below – “habemus papam,” or we have a pope.
The new pontiff then steps out in his papal robes and gives the city and the world his first blessing.
