|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 16 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Holy Father John Paul II will mark 26th year of His Papacy today October 16. Cardinal Karol Josef Wojtyla enthroned as John Paul II to continue the Apostolic tradition in the Holy See of St.Peter, the First Disciple, as the 264th Pope on October 16, 1978, enters modern history today as the Pope with a longest record of service to the Church. According to Church chronical, after St.Peter, the First Vicar of Christ who served the Church from 33 A.D. to 64 A.D., the longest served Popes were Blessed Pius IX and Leo XIII. The shortest lived Pope was Stephen II of 752 A.D. Being elected he died before consecration. Pope Leo XIII was the second Pope to have served the Church for 25 years and five months from 1878 to 1903. Pope John Paul II is the third and also the second Non-Italian Pope after 455 years. The first Non-Italian Pope was a native of Netherlands, Arian VI,elected Pope in 1522. At the Silver Jubilee celebrations held in Rome last year, the 84-year-old Pope reiterated His intention to continue to lead the world's one billion Catholics, despite his failing health." Christ, although conscious of my human fragility ....invites me to assume the responsibility that He Himself has given me," the Pope said, appearing to put an end to rumours that He could resign if His fabled powers of communication succumbed to his illness. "How could such a heavy responsibility fail to weigh on me?" The Pope, too, brought up the subject of his weakened condition. He disclosed that he can only answer the call of Christ and "do my best to fulfil the responsibilities that He has confided to me." He also presided over the beatification ceremony of Mother Teresa of Calcutta on October 19, the Mission Sunday and was to chair the Consistory on Tuesday, October 21, where He was scheduled officially to elevate 31 bishops and priests as Cardinals. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
