Pope says God wants him to stay

[goobergunch]

VATICAN CITY -- Marking 25 years as pontiff, Pope John Paul II told followers that God was asking him to continue leading the Roman Catholic Church despite his frail health.

"He (God), while knowing my human fragility, encourages me to respond with faith ... and he invites me to assume the responsibilities that he himself has entrusted to me," the 83-year-old pope said in a homily before tens of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Thursday night.

The pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is unable to walk without assistance, delivered the homily during Mass at the Vatican.

Appearing frail and speaking with a wavering voice, the pope told his followers, "A good shepherd stays with his flock" -- a line thought by analysts to be a direct reference to the question of whether he might resign.

more...http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/10/16/pope.anniversary/index.html

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Wonder if God tells the Pope the same or different things than he does...

...George W. Bush.

:shrug:

[alcuno]

5. The Holy Father told * that if he went to war with Iraq, he would

go without God. Shrub's just hearing his own voice.

[diamond14]

6. bush* went into Iraq with the devil...and all bush*'s spewing

about 'evil' certainly reflect that...bush* just needs to look in the mirror when he spews his "evil" crap....

the Pope was 100% right on....bush* went to Iraq and he went WITHOUT GOD.....

[AntiCoup2K4]

12. Even Satan deserves better than to be associated with Bush Jr

He may be the prince of darkness, but he's not stupid :evilfrown:

[twilight]

13. Amen to that!

Pope John Paul II called * on his war garbage and now we see he was absolutely correct. Now the Senate has failed to go for the 87 billion $. Maybe there is a hell of a lot more to this than meets the eye. O8)

Long live Pope John Paul II! O8)

[Democrats unite]

2. It's very hard for me to say anything nice here in this thread

So I will just say this. He will be meeting someone very soon.

[asjr]

8. pope

I wonder if it is the same God that is speaking to some general I heard about today that speaks with God.

[Maple]

3. I had no idea

God was so chatty, not to mention coy.

Tells Bush to attack Iraq...but not a peep on where the weapons are. Or Saddam.

Tells the Pope to carry on...while hitting him with every affliction known to old age.

Far be it from me to suggest that these people are .....

[Kelvin Mace]

4. If God wants you to stay...

while will you be dead by year's end?

Power hungry, pure and simple.

David Allen
www.plan9.org

Diebold Voting Machines
We vote for you, so you don't have to!

[pfitz59]

7. People hearing strange voices in their head.......

scare me! :scared:

[Merlin]

9. This is JP2's major, sad, delusionary failing.

He is such a mixed bag. He has done so much good. But he has sucumbed to the magical mystery tour of so many who have occupied the papacy: the idea that they are truly God's earthly representative.

The notion of papal infallibility is one of the most outrageous, supremely preposterous grabs for power in the history of the world. Declared by Pius IX in 1859, this ridiculous assertion attempts to gild the lily of actual papal authority with such idolatrous pomposity that it makes the blood run cold.

It is time for Reformation 2.

[Matilda]

15. The doctrine of papal infallibility had more to do with politics

than religion. It was mostly to shore up the Church's authority
when combatting "isms" such as Modernism, Communism, etc. As if
that would make a difference. It also went against the advice
of many cardinals and bishops who could see the dangers that could
arise. Unfortunately, too many popes are all too human and fallible,
including this one. Can you imagine any other modern multi-billion
dollar enterprise allowing a CEO to continue in such a poor state?
It's not a good image, either for the Pope or the Church, and it's
a pity he didn't retire while he could do so with some dignity.

[DemBones DemBones]

19. John Paul II is showing the world that old age and illness are

a natural part of life and shouldn't be hidden away. I think that's a gift to us all.

Of course he's human and fallible. And he shows it.

Viva il Papa!

[Merlin]

21. Agreed. It is outrageous that he has not voluntarily stepped down.

I try to cut the guy some slack. But his notion of his own self importance--obviously a result of inhaling the constant obeisances of his sycophants--is beyond the pale.

[Whoa_Nelly]

10. From the Pope's lips...

...to God's ear.

[david_vincent]

11. Never mind about that,

what did He say about me?

[TahitiNut]

14. I thought Neale Donald Walsch was the one who had ...

... Conversations With God? :shrug:

[T Bone]

16. Maybe the Pope just stays in close contact with Reverend Moon

who is Father God to hear him tell it. So maybe Moon told the Pope, "No retirement for you!" Bush thinks he was made President by God,,,well we know the Bush-Moon Family links and history even though the liberal media has sure never done a thourough investigation into all their mutual interests and ties. Maybe that wacked out General gets emails from Moon?

Maybe Moon just sends coded messages in the Washington Times, which he owns, to Bushco, Pope, and that General Bullrush dude? :shrug:

[sujan]

17. hahahahahahahaha

really?

[Voltaire99]

18. God wants me to get a sweet vintage BMW 2002...

...but apparently, the owner has already made arrangements to sell it to someone else.

God damned heretic! Since he's staying, can the Pope intervene?

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. Pope sounds more like someone

Who is afraid to die?

If he had a direct line to god, you would think god would tell him it's time to give it up and come home. There are plenty of Cardinals who would be more than willing and able to lead the church.

[Matilda]

23. I think all that power can go to the head.

[no_hypocrisy]

22. Damn! He stole Shrub's campaign theme!

n/t