Pope Starting to Lose Consciousness, Vatican Says [VOA]

[truthisfreedom]

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-04-02-voa8.cfm


Pope Starting to Lose Consciousness, Vatican Says

By Roger Wilkison
Rome
02 April 2005

The Vatican says Pope John Paul II has begun to slip in and out of consciousness and that his condition remains extremely serious.


Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls says the Pope showed the first signs of losing consciousness early Saturday. Speaking to reporters through an interpreter, the spokesman who is a physician described the Pontiff's lapse into unconsciousness as a compromising moment.


"It was noticed that there was a rather difficult compromising moment at 7:30. Nothing has changed since," he said.


But Dr. Navarro insists the 84-year-old Pope is not in a coma and says he opens his eyes when spoken to.
<snip>

[flordehinojos]

1. he also reconstructed a phrase from words the pope had spoken in his in

and out of consciousness which he, and the vatican people, attributed to a message the pope was directing at the young people gathered under his window. He said they had been able to make out that the pope said, "i know that you have come to be with me and for that i thank you."

i remember that when my grandmother died, a few hours before she died, she started to talk to people who had long been dead. i do believe that the dying can see the spiritual world which we cannot see.

based on the experience of my grandmother and the theory i formulated thereafter, i believe it is possible that the pope may have been talking to Christ, or to Mary Queen of Heaven, or to his own terrestrial mother...and not so much to the faithful gathered under his window.

[knitter4democracy]

5. For we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses

Hebrews 12:1

Often a source of comfort to me. I hope he's not suffering, as kidney failure and heart failure are very painful.

Blessings on you, First Among Equals, Patriarch of Rome and the Western Church. May you be in the arms of angels today who can wing you home. And may you get all the time you want in Heaven to sleep, to talk with Mother Teresa, and to hike and kayak like you used to.

[Palacsinta]

6. My dying aunt had the same experience........

She kept asking "Why are all these people in the room?" when it was just me. She also kept raising her hand and saying "Not yet." and then she would smile. Probably anoxia or the super-duper heavy pain medication, but it was comforting none-the-less.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Spiffarino]

4. This Protestant

...is keeping the Pope in his prayers.

Heartfelt condolences to my Catholic friends. May his transition be as smooth and as pain-free as possible.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

7. Thank you. The warmth extended from many non-faithful here has been

heartwarming to say the least.

Peace

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. it is sad

how some non believers have reacted to the Popes final illness


and to poor Terri Schiavo

it does not reflect well on us as a community


I consider myself to be a "non believer" but a tolerant one (I hope)

[ollie3]

9. We need to be respectful

As a party, we have been losing the religious vote. The radical right, of course, is lost to us anyway and we don't want or need them. However, the moderate Christian vote is something we can't afford to write off.

Yet, the "moral values" voters by and large are voting Republican and many of us don't understand why that is.

Perhaps many of these voters in 2004 didn't get turned off by things Kerry said, but perhaps were turned off by what they heard Democrats saying 2,3 or more years ago. Disrespectful comments toward religious folk can paint us as a party who disrespects religion, and this just makes it EASIER for the right to claim they are the ones who represent true morality and faith.

So it is with disgust, on another board, that I read a liberal Democrat crowing the the Pope had "croaked". I don't care whether you liked the Pope, agreed with his stands, or even respected him as a human being....but comments like this.....even by a handful.....can make all of us sound disrespectful towards not just the Pope, but against Catholics and religious people. Beyond that, it makes us look like jerks.

I know it might have seemed ever so cool to say he "croaked". Hope it made the person feel good. Problem is, it is Democrats like this who are causing us to lose elections. I have to live with four more years of Bush Idiocy. And I have to wonder if part of the reason is because of ignorant things Democrats said in public forums 2,3 years ago.

As a non-Catholic I grieve the Pope's loss, and I wish him godspeed. It is a sad day when anyone dies, but this will be mourned by many, many people so a lot of hearts are very heavy today. I ask that we all show mercy, grace and reverence.

[Spiffarino]

12. Tolerance is a hallmark of the modern Democratic Party

We need to remember that, more than any single thing, we are the party of the Big Welcome.

We can be rich or poor, black or white, Christian or Muslim, or anything in between. What we should not be is hateful, intolerant or stupid. Leave that to the others. God knows there are far too many.

PS - Re your screen name: I love that book, but I still can't stand beets.

[JohnKleeb]

13. Well said

:). The new deal coalition was American society well except the rich bankers :).

[Desertrose]

10. I wish the Pope an easy crossing...

he lived a long and full life and within the limits of his position, I feel he has done the best job he could. He strikes me as having a good heart.

Godspeed.

[Avalon Sparks]

11. He's been a pretty good Pope

I feel very sad today. I've been wearing a charm for several weeks now that He had blessed. My Mom hadn't been feeling so well that last couple of months and I put it on because I've been praying for her lately. I have it on a necklace coupled with a charm my Dad had given me years ago that I've always worn when I wanted good luck.

I'm not the most religious person, but I do know when I've prayed really hard for stuff for me or others, it seems to happen. The fundamentalist's with their self-righteousness and their prejudice judgements have soured religion for me greatly over the last several years. I think that spiritual beliefs are private, and I feel as uncomfortable talking about mine with someone, as I would about my sex life.

I have my own beliefs and as a cafeteria Catholic with 8 years of Catholic school behind her, the Pope does play a part in those beliefs and even if I haven't agreed with everything he's said or done, I still think he is a good man and I respect and even love him. I wish him Godspeed on his journey and I'll shed some tears at his passing.