Pope Marks 26th Anniversary, Confounds Soothsayers

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=7cb7ada79f59b4c8&cat=c08dd24cec417021

Pope Marks 26th Anniversary, Confounds Soothsayers
Sat Oct 16, 2004 08:42 AM ET


By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul marked the 26th anniversary of his pontificate on Saturday, defying medical odds and confounding predictions about any successor.

Debilitated by Parkinson's disease, unable to walk, sometimes unable to speak clearly, the 84-year-old pontiff has defied premature predictions of his imminent demise for at least 10 years
more...

I agree with the article he may be alive but he is not in control of the church by any means...!!!

[StupidFOX]

1. Well, I would imagine they take good care of him

But yeah, if they're looking for the religious authority of the world, they should be looking for Pope Bush II ;)

[Book Lover]

2. Hardly the first time

that the Pope hasn't been the strong hand at the tiller.

[UrbScotty]

3. The only problen with JP II is that he hasn't canonized Reagan.

</sarcasm>

[arwalden]

4. Can A Pope Be Removed From Office?

If he was being kept alive on a respirator for years and years...would he still be the "active" pope? If he were alive and semi-alert, but completely unaware of who he was and confined to a nursing home bed... would he be forced to wear his pope hat? (so to speak)

-- Allen

[NYC Liberal]

5. No, he's in until he dies or quits.

[w4rma]

6. He is one of the best Popes. I'm happy he's still with us. (nt)

[lovuian]

7. I'm happy he is too but is he capable of running the Catholic Church

I don't think so!!!

This leaves for instability in the church!!!
This is why Bishops have so much power... this happened before
A mental unstable pope could be an weakness for the church

Not to say Pope John Paul is mentally unstable but with old age it can happen!!!

[HereSince1628]

8. Sorry, my background is protestant...the pope seems a nice guy

but that's about where it ends for me.

The "C"hurch is a big deal in western civilization but I just can't relate to it.

Nonetheless, best wishes to JPII. You are a popular figure, probably for good reasons.

[lovuian]

9. I guess heres my point!!!

John Paul has been Pope for many years when has he in all those years
allowed Bishops to interfere with an American Election

Never

but now in his later years he is getting more and more off balanced
Its understandable he is aging a fact of life

Memory Judgement get impaired and your very vulnerable to being manipulated by the men around you.

Look back in history Kings fell victim to it and its the same for the Pope!!!

You have to ask yourself WHO is running the Vatican!!!