by Abaddon 9 Replies latest jw friends
John Paul II has been given the Holy Viaticum (last sacrements). He has a high fever, a urinary tract infection, and has difficulty breathing and swallowing.
He is concious and alert and has decided not to return to hospital. Although the health care at the Vatican is excellent this is seen by commentators as an indication the Pope is preparing to die, and wishes to do so at home.
who succeeds him? is there like a vice pope or something?
The Cardinals and Archbishops that are currently running the Church will continue their administrative duties. After a greiving period of about 9? days, a papal election would be called within 2? weeks. Then they lock up all the Cardinals until they elect and new one.
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They lock the Cardinals in a room within 15-20 days of the Pope's death and don;t let them out until they choose a new Pope.
As the Pope ruled for so long, most Cardinals (whom the Pope appoints) are like-minded to him - conservatives.
Therefore it is very likely the new Pope will be a conservative.
Liberals within the RC Church believe the time is ripe for looking anew at things such as the ordination of women, contraception, celibacy and homosexuality. They feel only by change will the Church remain relevant.
Conservatives feel the Church needs to position itself along side traditional values to stop the decline. Unfortunately these traditional values include treating women like second-class human beings, boosting third-word poverty and rates of HIV infection, frustrated priests developing paraphilias and victimising peaceful people on account of a genetically determined predisposition.
There is a great depiction of the choosing of a new pope in Angels & Demons by Dan Brown. Also, he ihas had a heart attack & is in a coma now ...
could this be a sign that we're in the 'last daysTM'?
The news reported his heart stopped, but was restarted. He can't have too long left. However after the assasination attempt in '81 they read him his last rights as well and he made it through.
Kwin
ohhh this is where you are hiding Abaddon. Think you can run away from truth about the truths questions eh?
I'm sick of his gyrations anyway. Next...
Dismembered
"Don't you go dyin' on me now"
