Pope's condition

[Chadd 916]

Regardless of my agreement or disagreement with his positions on issues, I certainly respect the fact he has always done what he has believed to be right. I would hope that whatever is in store for him does not cause him any pain or suffering.

[mik3 1]

Yeah, whether you agree or not, the man stuck to his guns. And he's been one tough guy. I mean come on, the guy got shot. And still in his deteriorating state the last handful of years he's kept up a somewhat busy travel schedule till about the last 8 months.

[kosydar 0]

We've been talking about it in religion class for quite some time now, and the general consensus among Catholic scholars is that the new pope will be more modern and socially liberal for lack of a better term. I guess JPII is/was one of the last Catholic leaders who sort of stood against a lot of the change people were trying to make. One thing that was mention by my teacher was gay rights, and how its assumed that the new pope will be more liberal leaning towards them. It should be pretty interesting, and even if I don't agree with him on a lot of subjects, I still have a lot of respect for him.

[LkptTiger 1]

I can't say that I am a religious person, but this is still something that I have been paying attention to for the last few months now. Anytime something like this is happening to someone who has had such a large impact on the word we live in today, I think everyone, regardless of age, sex or religion, holds a certain interest. At 17 years old, I can't say that I really remember, first-hand, much of what he has done in his 26 years at the head of the Catholic church, but I have heard of and have researched his actions during those 26 years, and, regardless of my personal stand on many of the issues he has attacked, I have to say that I appreciate and honor his efforts.

[LkptTiger 1]

The Vatican has reported that Pope John Paul II has died...

[vivaotravez12 0]

Very sad day for Catholics, and everyone around the world.

[flaming_june 2]

rip

[Sven 1]

rest in peace, man :(

[JR Boucicaut 3803]

"Athletics were an important part of the pope's life since his years growing up in the Polish town of Wadowice. Karol Wojtyla, as he was called then, was a goalkeeper for his local soccer team.

Pilgrims to Wadowice can still see the field where he played.

When he wasn't playing soccer, "Lolek" -- his nickname -- would take daring swims in the flooded Skawa River with his boyhood friend Jerzy Kluger during the warmer months. In the winter, the future pontiff played ice hockey on the Skawa's frozen surface and went skiing."

[D3nZ 0]

Yeah I heard that yesterday that he loved to play hockey in his young days, I was surprised. My last grand parent (grandma) has the same age has the pope did, the mind troubles and the trouble with movement is catching up to her and we will probably put her in a home in the comming months, kinda makes me sad, but still has the hopes of a 30 year old, she is the most possitive person around me right now. And she would probably kick my ass at sweeping like in curling :P.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

RIP, I was watching CNN just as they announced his death. Just terrble. Kosy, I actually heard the new Pope most likely will be conservative like John Paul II was from CNN and CTV I think it was.

D3NZ, your granda sounds alot like my Opa, hes 88 and up untill last year he got around really well (then he got two new knees, but they don't work as good as the old ones :P). I think that old people who tend to stay active seem to live longer than the ones who just lay around.

[kosydar 0]

I heard that too, but its hard to say what the next Pope will be. Its been 20 some odd years since they last elected a new one, so I don't think anybody really knows whats going to be in store.

[Shorthanded67 0]

In the winter, the future pontiff played ice hockey on the Skawa's frozen surface and went skiing."

Very sad day indeed. As a veteran of 12 years of Catholic schooling, I almost felt like I knew the man...

One interesting tidbit relating to hockey. The Pope's last visit to the United States was to my hometown St. Louis in 1999 at the Kiel Center(now Savvis Center). The city gave him a Blues jersey with "Pope John Paul II- #1" on the back and a stick. He then got on the mic and said something like "When I return, I can play some hockey!". Sadly his health deteriorated and he never returned.

Here's a pic:

[Chadd 916]

I heard that too, but its hard to say what the next Pope will be. Its been 20 some odd years since they last elected a new one, so I don't think anybody really knows whats going to be in store.

The next pope will probably be an older guy as they won't want one man in that position for another 20+ years.

[Dan_The_Man_16 0]

I think thats so stupid, I think alot of people felt they really knew this Pope because he held the position for so long. I just think it gets people more involved.

[kosydar 0]

Anyone else in Catholic school getting this Friday off?