VATICAN
CITY, April 3, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The
world mourned the late Pope John Paul II on Sunday, April 3, as
thousands of grieving pilgrims converged on Rome to pay homage to the
pontiff who died after a prolonged struggle with ill health.
Archbishop
Leonardo Sandri announced the pope’s death Saturday, April 2, to a
huge crowd that had massed under the pontiff's windows to pray for a
miraculous recovery that never came, Reuters news agency reported.
A
wave of applause rippled through St Peter's Square, an Italian sign of
respect for the dead, and then hush descended. Many of the faithful
wept uncontrollably.
The
pope died in his bed at 9:37 p.m. (1937 GMT), surrounded by his
closest Polish aides.
The
Vatican announced that the pope's body would lie in state for public
viewing in St Peter's Basilica from Monday afternoon at the earliest.
No
date was set for a funeral, but it was likely to happen between
Wednesday and Friday.
The
exact cause of death was not given but the pope's health had
deteriorated steadily over the past decade with the onset of
Parkinson's disease and arthritis.
He
had an operation in February to ease serious breathing problems, but
never regained his strength and last Thursday, March 31, developed an
infection and high fever that soon precipitated heart failure, kidney
problems and ultimately death.
Sea
of Mourners
As
the news of the pope’s death spread through Rome, thousands of
faithful streamed to the Vatican to join those already there, paying
homage to a man who revolutionized his office and took his rigorous
message far beyond the confines of the Vatican.
Around
130,000 people packed into St Peter's Square within two hours of his
death, necks craned up towards the lighted windows of the pope's
apartments.
As
day broke over Rome and the Vatican City, the flow of pilgrims from
afar began arriving in a fitting tribute to a pontiff who traveled the
equivalent of 30 times the circumference of the earth.
Tens
of thousands were to attend a mass for the pope at 10.30 a.m. (0830
GMT) in the same cobble-stoned square.
The
Vatican prepared extra trains, fresh water supplies and thousands of
beds to accommodate one of the greatest influxes of pilgrims in its
memory.
Globetrotter
Apart
from his battle against communism and quest for global peace, John
Paul will also be remembered for his unswerving defense of traditional
Vatican doctrines.
He
drew criticism from liberal Catholics who opposed his proclamations
against contraception, abortion, married priests and women clergy.
The
first non-Italian pope in 455 years, John Paul threw off the stiff
trappings of the papacy, meeting ordinary people everywhere he
traveled -- 129 countries and territories in all.
But
as the years passed, his energy faded.
Once
a lithe athlete and powerful speaker, he suffered a series of health
dramas, including a near-fatal shooting in 1981.
By
the end of his life he could no longer walk and his voice was often
reduced to a raspy whisper.
The
pope was an untiring advocate of Christian unity and inter-religious
dialogue. He was the first pontiff to preach in a Protestant church
and a synagogue and to set foot in a mosque.
Man
of Peace
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Palestinian Christians pray in Gaza after the death of the pope. (Reuters)
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John
Paul II was further known for his love for peace and round rejection
of injustices worldwide.
His
anti-Iraq war position gave momentum to the anti-war drive around the
globe.
He
warned President George Bush that American occupation forces in Iraq
were damaging efforts to bring religions together.
He
also told the US leader that his policies in the Middle East in
general were not helping the cause of peace.
On
the US war on terror, he said: “The fight against terrorism must not
be purely repressive and punitive” but “must also proceed from the
elimination of its causes, which are rooted in injustice.”
The
pontiff also criticized Israel for building a separation wall in the
West Bank, saying the Middle East “does not need walls but
bridges.”
Successor
The
conclave to elect a new pope will start in 15 to 20 days, with 117
cardinals from around the globe gathering in the Vatican's Sistine
Chapel to choose a successor.
There
is no favorite candidate to succeed John Paul, with possible choices
coming from around the world.
The
former Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow was himself a rank outsider
when he was elevated to the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978.
Many
red-hatted princes of the Catholic Church had rushed to Rome in recent
days to be near the Pope in his dying hours.
Many
others will arrive before the first General Congregation of the
Cardinals gathers on Monday, April 5, to decide on the funeral
details.
