Pope John Paul II: Full obit
Posted: Saturday, April 2nd, 2005 8:10 pm
VATICAN CITY (CNN) — Pope John Paul II was remembered Saturday as a “champion of human freedom,” a “tireless advocate of peace” and a man with a “wonderful sense of humor” who was easy to talk to.
The charismatic pontiff, who led the world’s 1 billion Catholics for 26 years, died at 9:37 p.m. Saturday (2:37 p.m. ET) in his private apartment, the Vatican said. He was 84.
“The Holy Father’s final hours were marked by the uninterrupted prayer of all those who were assisting him in his pious death and by the choral participation in prayer of the thousands of faithful who for many hours had been gathered in Saint Peter’s Square,” a Vatican statement said.
Archbishop Stanislow Dziwisz presided over a Mass for the pontiff in his final hours.
“During the course of the Mass that the viaticum (communion for the dying) was administered to the Holy Father and, once again, the sacrament of anointing the sick,” the statement said.
Archbishop Leonardo Sandri asked for a few moments of silence as he announced the death to the thousands of faithful who had congregated in St. Peter’s Square. People in the crowd bowed their heads to pray, some of them in tears.
Then they burst into applause. … Read full obituary
