Pope Cancels His Ash Wednesday Service

[DuctapeFatwa]

In the latest sign of concern over his frail health, Pope John Paul II has canceled his traditional Ash Wednesday service at a Rome basilica, the Vatican said Saturday.

John Paul, 83, no longer walks in public ceremonies..

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040110_907.html

[UrbScotty]

1. That's too bad.

I hope and pray for the best for His Holiness.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Ash Wednesday is February 25 this year

He must be in bad shape indeed if he already knows (or his handlers already know) that he won't be healthy by then.

[Gman]

3. He may be going down fast

Its like watching an elderly relative go downhill. You know he won't be around very long but you just don't know when. This may indicate JPII may not be around at the end of this year.

That's fine. He deserves to move on to what has to be a fabulous reward in Heaven.

[IndianaGreen]

4. And it is February of 2004 that they are talking about

Instead, the pope will preside over a prayer ceremony, which will include a blessing and smudging of the ashes on the faithful in a Vatican auditorium the morning of Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25.

The change eliminates the taxing drive from the Vatican across Rome to the Aventine Hill and the transfer from cars to the wheeled decorative chair he has been using to get around.

For all I know the Pope could also be mentally infirm, something that the Opus Dei Vatican bureaucrats would not want the public to find out. The Pope's personal secretary, Joaquin Navarro-Vails, is a member of Opus Dei.

[are_we_united_yet]

5. The Pope is a great man.

I cannot say I've agreed with every one of his positions over the years but I have profound respect for him. His deteriorating health saddens me greatly.

[twilight]

6. it saddens me too

and to think, it was last Ash Wednesday that Pope John Paul asked all Catholics to fast for peace in hopes of averting war, and I was one of them that did. So sad indeed! :(

I hope he recovers - you never know. I really do believe he has God on his side regardless of what others may think. O8)

:dem: :kick: