by
Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
April 1,
2005
The Vatican (LifeNews.com) -- Catholic officials say the Italian
media jumped the gun on Friday in news reports that Pope John Paul II
has passed away. However, a leading Vatican spokesman confirmed that
the Pope's medical situation is perilous and that he is near death.
Early
Saturday morning in Rome, the Vatican confirmed that the Pope had a
difficult night, with his condition worsening. Vatican officials told
reporters that he was in a "very grave" situation.
The pope "is on the verge of death," Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, head of the Vatican's health care office, told the Mexican television network Televisa. "I talked to the doctors and they told me there is no more hope."
Cardinal Marcio Francesco Pompedda a leading Vatican administrator, visiting the Pope on Friday and said that he opened his eyes, recognized him, and smiled.
"I understood he recognized me. It was a wonderful smile -- I'll remember it forever. It was a benevolent smile -- a father-like smile," Pompedda told RAI television. "I also noticed that he wanted to tell me something but he could not. ... But what impressed me very much was his expression of serenity."
Should the Pope die, the world will closely watch the process as a new papal leader is selected. Millions of pro-life Catholics will hope that a new leader will be tapped who is as vocal on issues such as abortion and euthanasia as Pope John Paul II.
After the Pope's death, the church would begin a period of nine days of mourning.
Then, the College of Cardinals, with 119 Catholic cardinals worldwide, would convene and select a new Pope by vote from among them. The new leader must receive two-thirds of the vote and accept the nomination.
William Donohue, a leading American Catholic activist says he's certain the new leader of the Catholic Church will continue the strong pro-life direction under John Paul II.
"He's not going to change, most of the teachings of the church have been pretty well set," Donohue told the DOn Imus radio program about a new pope.
"The Catholic Church talks about restraint in a world where restraint is a dirty word. That's not going to change," he added.
The White House said President Bush and his wife were praying for the pope and that the world's concern was "a testimony to his greatness" and an inspiration for millions.
"The president and Mrs. Bush join people all across the world who are praying for the Holy Father. He's in our thoughts and prayers," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters.
"The outpouring of love across the world is a testimony to the greatness of the pope. The pope is an inspiration to millions of Americans and people all over the world for his great moral leadership," McClellan said.
On Wednesday, the Catholic leader had a feeding tube inserted in his nose to provide him with food and water and church officials indicated he may have problems swallowing food.
Both the Pope and the Catholic Church strongly condemned efforts to starve Terri Schiavo to death, calling the removal of her feeding tube "euthanasia by omission."
Pope John Paul II has led the Catholic Church for 26 years and been regarded as one of the strongest advocates of the pro-life position on abortion and euthanasia.
In his most recent remarks, delivered last month from his hospital bed, the Pope declared a pro-life day in Italy and told Catholics worldwide to continue defending the sanctity of human life.
"One must have confidence in life," Pope John Paul II said.
"Confidence in life is demanded silently by children who are yet unborn," the Holy Father said. "Confidence is also asked by so many children who, remaining without a family for different reasons, need a home that will receive them through adoption or temporary custody."
The "challenge of life" is "the first among the great challenges of humanity today," he added.
The
Pope urged "Catholics and people of good will to defend the fundamental
right to life, in respect of the dignity of every human person."
