| KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THE POPE |
| Written by Maria Elena Salinas |
| Monday, October 13 2003 |
| |
| Vatican City -- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger reportedly cried when he realized that comments he made about Pope John Paul II's health made headlines around the world. Ratzinger said to a group of German brewers that the pope "is in a bad way," and asked for their prayers. His comments made it into a German weekly and created shockwaves throughout the globe, fueling speculation that the pope is on the brink of death.
I don't know if Cardinal Ratzinger actually cried, but here in Vatican City, talking about the pope's health is as taboo as speculating on when he'll die. The reason why the cardinal's comments carried such weight is because of his close relationship with the pontiff and because it was considered the first confirmation by a Vatican official that the pope is gravely ill.
The signs of his deteriorating condition are obvious to all. Amazingly, the Catholic Church has never officially admitted that he has Parkinson's disease, or that he suffers from arthritis. Italian journalist and John Paul II biographer Marco Polliti tells me the curvature in the pope's torso, caused by the arthritis, is putting pressure on his lungs and diaphragm and is preventing him from breathing normally. There are also unconfirmed reports that the pontiff might be suffering from senile emphysema. When the pontiff travels by plane, Polliti tells me, there are opened oxygen tanks readily available to be administered within seconds.
No one wants to say the "D" word, but everyone seems to be on a deathwatch. Media outlets from around the world have reserved prime locations near the Vatican, trying to assure the best possible view for coverage of the "event," as some Vatican officials call it. Hotels in the area are preparing to sell out and are warning visitors of the expected chaos in and around Rome. Web sites are detailing the ceremonial process in the event of the pope's death and the ritual of selecting a new pontiff. And newspaper articles are publishing lists of possible successors.
Even the pope himself seems to be preparing for the moment. This week marks the 25th anniversary of his papacy, and he is celebrating it by beatifying Mother Teresa of Calcutta on the same week. It's been reported that the pope consulted with a group of cardinals on the possibility of canonizing Mother Teresa and bypassing the beatification phase, but then decided against the preferential treatment.
Making saints is one of the pontiff's specialties. He has elevated more Catholics to sainthood than all of his predecessors put together. "He wants to create models for Catholics around the world," Monsignor Jose Luis Gutierrez from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints told me. "He wants people to know that everyone has the potential to become a saint."
It's also possible that Pope John Paul II is creating saints to assure loyalty from Catholics around the globe whose faith and devotion to the church have been eroding. The church has been hurt by its coverup of allegations of sexual abuse by priests and by its ultra-conservative stands on such issues as homosexuality, women in the priesthood, abortion, divorce, premarital sex and contraception.
Even so, the pope seems to be trying to assure continuity in the next papacy. He recently named 31 new cardinals and moved up the date of their ordination from February 2004 to Oct. 21, 2003. Many of these cardinals will be part of the group that will elect a new pope from among the group's members.
There is no doubt that this traveling pope will leave a strong legacy. His contributions to the end of the Cold War and his defense of the poor and oppressed have made a significant mark. But when the "event" arrives and he passes on, the church will need to consider adjusting to the new realities around the world. For now, by taking steps to assure his legacy, the frail pontiff is letting the world know that he will continue to hold sway over the church long after the "D" word becomes a reality. |
