Pope John Paul II passes away...

Pope John Paul II passes away...

Sunday, April 3, 2005 (Vatican):

Pope John Paul II died on Saturday night in his Vatican apartment, ending a long public struggle against debilitating illness. He was 84.

The Pope died after suffering heart and kidney failure following two hospitalisations in as many months.

He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease and various other ailments in recent years.

The funeral is expected on Wednesday but there is no official word yet.

The pontiff helped topple communism in Europe and left a deeply conservative stamp on the church that he led for 26 years.

From Manila to Madrid, millions of people are mourning the passing of Pope John Paul II. Special services are being held in churches and chapels all over the world.

Memories of the Pope

After the brief Pontificate of Pope John Paul, a puff of white smoke over the Sistine Chapel on the evening of October 16, 1978 indicated that a new Pope had been selected.

Thousands of people rushed to St Peter's Square to see him. Karol Wojtyla, the first Polish Pope, emerged on the balcony to the cheers of those gathered below.

The 58-year-old former Cardinal of Krakow, Poland, was the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years and it took only a few seconds for him to win over his new congregation.

Keen interests

Karol Joseph Wojtyla was born in Wadowice Poland on May 18, 1920. His mother, a teacher, died when Wojtyla was nine-years-old. His father, a foundry worker and non-commissioned army officer was a strict disciplinarian.

As a boy Karol excelled in his school work and in sports. He was active in theatre, wrote poetry and was a keen outdoors man.

One of his favourite sports was skiing and he later wowed the world as the first Pope to take to the slopes on skis.

When he was 26, Karol Wojtyla became a priest. He rose rapidly through the church hierarchy, impressing church officials in Rome with his intellect.

Karol Wojtyla was named Cardinal of Krakow at age 47. As Cardinal, Wojtyla began to work quietly to promote political change in Poland, an activity he would continue as Pope.

Solidarity movement

Shortly after becoming Pope, John Paul II returned to Poland where his anti-communist stance made him an ally of the Solidarity movement.

His visit prompted an explosion of patriotism and anti-Communist feeling. He later greeted the movement's leader, Lech Walesa, in an emotional meeting at the Vatican.

The pontiff received many world leaders at the Vatican, quietly using his influence to affect world events, by simply being seen with those others still found controversial.

Emotional pilgrimages

John Paul II's vast travels have enabled millions of Catholics across the World to attend Mass, celebrated by the pontiff, to kiss his ring or shake his hand.

Even in his later years, when the journeys were exacerbating his frail health, the Pope still undertook an average of five trips per year.

John Paul II also made an emotional pilgrimage to the Auschwitz death camp, in his native Poland.

The Pope visited Cuba, which prompted Fidel Castro to loosen the rules preventing people to worship.

Assassination attempt

On May 13, 1981 the Pope escaped an assassination attempt as gunman shot him while he was circling St Peter's Square.

Once recovered from the bid on his life, John Paul II swung back into action with more vigour than ever.

In the later years the Pope's gruelling schedule began to take its toll. During public appearances he often seemed exhausted.

But the determined Pope never slowed down, continuing to show a sense of humour.

During his papacy, Vatican TV came into existence, capturing on camera every meeting and mass attended by the Pope.

TV wasn't the only tool that John Paul II used to preach his message. The first ever Pope-CD was released in 1999 complete with a music video. The Pope was recorded singing during mass.

Force for peace

The Pope had many critics. His views against abortion, birth control, homosexuality and female priests alienated many Catholics.

His strong stance on birth control brought the Vatican into confrontation with the United Nations.

But he was praised by many for his efforts to promote world peace.

On the May 4, 2001, the Pope made history by beginning his controversial visit to Greece, Syria and Malta.

Reaching across a nearly 1000-year divide, Pope John Paul II offered a sweeping statement of regret for 'sins of action and omission' against those of the Christian Orthodox faith.

The declaration, long awaited by Orthodox leaders, could provide a new foundation for the Pope's attempt to encourage dialogue between the two estranged branches of Christianity.

Although the Pope was welcomed by some Greek Orthodox leaders, others protested the visit.

Despite battling tiredness, the Pope showed no sign of cutting back on his travels amidst concerns about his health and he travelled extensively in 2002 including his native Poland.

Anti-war feelings

In the build-up to the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Pope expressed strong anti-war feelings.

In the weeks leading up to the conflict he met with Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz and British Prime Minister Tony Blair in an attempt to persuade them to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The year 2000, held immense significance for the Pope, as it represented the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ.

In a lavish ceremony the fragile Pope opened the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica at the start of the Vatican's year-long celebration of Christianity's third millennium.

In 2003, the Pope celebrated the 25th anniversary of his pontificate and during the week long celebrations, Mother Theresa of Calcutta was beatified.

Frail health

His frailty was now obvious for all to see and during a trip to pray at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in Southern France in 2004, he slipped whilst kneeling in prayer needed to helped to his seat.

Despite his condition he maintained a gruelling schedule and continued to strive towards goals close to his heart.

These included improving inter-religious dialogue, as illustrated at a Mass he shared with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (the spiritual leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church).

In February 2005, the Pope was admitted to hospital suffering from a severe bout of the flu. Despite his illness he managed to conduct his weekly angelus from his hospital window.

He returned to the Vatican, but he suffered a re-lapse and was re-admitted to hospital on Feb 25, 2005.

On 31st March 2005 the Pope's health deteriorated suddenly and he received the Catholic sacrament reserved for the sick and dying, Italian media reported.

The sacrament used to be called Extreme Unction or Last Rites; it was renamed to reflect it's administering not only to the dying but to the sick, as well.

The Pope developed a high fever because of a urinary tract infection and was treated with antibiotics at the Vatican.

The latest health setback for the 84-year-old pontiff came one day after he began receiving nutrition through a feeding tube

from ndtv.com