Pope given last Rites

[C.Ann]

He's only 84? He looks much older than that - so frail..

 

[chell]

 

[Divamomto3]

The Sacrament is now called The Anointing of the Sick. It isn't officially called Last Rites any more. At the Catholic Hospital that I work at, any Catholic patient who wishes it, will be given this Sacrament upon hospitalization or before any procedure or surgery...no matter how minor. A few years ago, my Church had an entire ceremony for any Parishoner that wanted the Sacrament...no matter how minor their illness or health trouble may be. You can be annointed as many times as you wish.

I don't doubt the Pope is extremely ill...I just am not sure that him being given this Sacrament is signaling impending death.

 

[Divamomto3]

I agree that in the past the vatican has downplayed his health issues. I don't know when it was made public that he was diagnosed with parkinsons but I spent a summer in Italy a while back and a week in Rome with a catholic friend of mine who wanted to go to a mass that he was giving in St. Peter's Square. We showed up early for decent seats and they had these huge TV's set up like a rock concert so that everyone could see his face. I clearly remember that the camera was shaking the whole time and how distracting I found it. When I told my DH he thought it was interesting since the Pope had parkinsons and we wondered if they might have done that to distract from the tremor. In either case even though I am jewish, it was an utter thrill to be in the presence of such greatness. He rode right past me about 2 feet away in the pope-mobile, just down the steps of St. Peter's and right past my aisle. I may have been able to touch him if I hadn't been run over by a group of nuns.

Even though I don't agree with everything he says, no one can argue that he is not a great man, a great scholar and a great leader. I wish him peace in his final hours here on earth, whether they be many or few.

This is one of the nicest sentiments that I have read on this board today...especially on any political, religious, or end of life thread. Thank you, Lisa for a respectful and thoughtful post.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I wonder if being out in public, struggling to speak, and not being able to just took the last of the fight out of him.

An incredibly brilliant man ... a visionary ... I may not agree with him on some major points, but he will leave the world a better place than he found it. Something interesting: when he passes, this will be my first papal conclave. I'm a Catholic, about to be 25, and this was the pope of my birth. Both Paul IV and JPI died in 1978.

I think the next pope will be an extremely conservative Italian.
It's a little bit frightening to me.

I agree with your last statement and it scares me too! This will be the fourth papal conclave of my lifetime. Pope John was around when I was born. I think Pope Paul was the most influencial because he made the most changes with Vatican II etc. We can only pray for a peaceful passing for this very personable pope of the people.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Why is everyone saying "May he rest in peace." when he hasn't died yet?

I think they're saying "May he pass in peace."