« Easter Madness strikes! | Main | Last chance to bet on NCAA! »
April 04, 2005
Pope John Paul II dies
The Vatican has announced the passing of Pope John Paul II, the Polish pontiff who led the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter century. Up until his death Saturday night in his Vatican apartment, Pope John Paul was the most traveled pope in history.
"The angels welcome you," Vatican TV said after the announcement came from papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls just less than an hour ago.
"The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 p.m. (2:37 p.m. EST) in his private apartment. All the procedures outlined in the apostolic Constitution `Universi Dominici Gregis' that was written by John Paul II on Feb. 22, 1996, have been put in motion," Navarro-Valls said.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican No. 2 official, led a tearful crowd of 70,000 people in St. Peter's Square in prayers for the pope.
Posted by admin at April 4, 2005 04:11 PM