Pope Benedict XVI

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Benedict XVI - Ratzinger!!!

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Funeral arrangements

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The funeral Mass for John Paul II will be celebrated on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated by the cardinals and the patriarchs of the Oriental Churches. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, will preside. At the end of the liturgy, the casket of the Roman Pontiff will be brought into the Vatican Basilica and then into the Vatican Grottoes for burial."

More details

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The Holy Father died at 9:37 (1937 GMT) this evening in his private apartment. At 8:00PM (1800 GMT) the celebration of Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday began in the Holy Father's room, presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz with the participation of Cardinal Marian Jaworski, of Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko and of Msgr. Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki. During the course of the Mass, the Viaticum was administered to the Holy Father and, once again, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. 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 St. Peter's Square.

Present at the moment of the death of John Paul II were: his two personal secretaries Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz and Msgr. Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Cardinal Marian Jaworski, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, Fr. Tadeusz Styczen, the three nuns, Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who assist in the Holy Father's apartment, guided by the Superior Sr. Tobiana Sobodka, and the Pope's personal physician Dr. Renato Buzzonetti, with the two doctors on call, Dr. Alessandro Barelli and Dr. Ciro D'Allo, and the two nurses on call. Immediately afterwards Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano arrived, as did the camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice-camerlengo of Holy Roman Church. Thereafter, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Jozef Tomko also arrived.

Tomorrow, Divine Mercy Sunday, at 10:30AM (0830 GMT), a Mass for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father will be celebrated in St. Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano. At 12 noon, the Marian prayer of Easter time, the Regina Coeli, will be recited. The body of the late pontiff is expected to be brought to the Vatican Basilica no earlier than Monday afternoon. The first General Congregation of Cardinals will be held at 10:00AM (0800 GMT) on Monday April 4 in the Bologna Hall of the Apostolic Palace."

"The Holy Father has died"

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The Holy Father died this evening at 9:37 (1937 GMT) in his private apartment. All the procedures outlined in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis that was written by John Paul II on February 22, 1996, have been put in motion."

"Very serious"

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The clinical conditions of the Holy Father remain very serious. In late morning a high fever developed. When addressed by members of his household, he responds correctly."

"Compromised state of consciousness"

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The following information is an update as of 9:00 (0700 GMT) this morning: The general cardio-respiratory and metabolic conditions of the Holy Father are substantially unchanged and therefore are very serious. As of dawn this morning, the start of a compromised state of consciousness was observed. Mass was celebrated at 7:30 (0530 GMT) this morning in the presence of the pope. Last evening the pope probably had in mind the young people whom he has met throughout the world during his pontificate. In fact, he seemed to be referring to them when, in his words, and repeated several times, he seemed to have said the following sentence: 'I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you.'"

"Very grave"

VATICAN STATEMENT: "This morning, the Holy Father's health condition is very grave. Yesterday afternoon, March 31, as has been already announced, following a urinary infection, a state of septic shock and cardiocirculatory collapse set in. The Holy Father was immediately assisted by the medical team in His Holiness's private apartments. All appropriate therapeutic provisions and cardio-respiratory assistance were provided. The Holy Father's will to remain in his apartments was respected. They are equipped with complete and efficient health facilities. Late yesterday afternoon there was a temporary stabilization of the clinical framework which, however, in the following hours evolved negatively. The Holy Father's condition is being attentively monitored and watched over. The Holy Father is conscious, lucid and tranquil. At 7:17PM (1717 GMT) he received the Holy Viaticum (communion reserved for those close to death). At 6:00AM (0400 GMT) today, the Holy Father celebrated Holy Mass. The cardinal secretary of state and the closest aides of the Holy Father are united with him in prayer and are following the clinical conditions of His Holiness. The Pope is being assisted by his personal doctor Renato Buzzonetti, as well as two intensive care specialists, a cardiologist and an ear, nose and throat specialist as well as two nurses."

"The pope remains conscious"

VATICAN STATEMENT: "The pope remains conscious. This morning at 6:00 (0400 GMT) he celebrated Mass. About 7:15 (0515 GMT), realizing that today is Friday, a day in which he traditionally follows the Stations of the Cross, he asked that the fourteen stations be read to him. He followed attentively the reading of the text and made the sign of the cross at every station. After finishing the stations, he said he wished to recite the Liturgy of Hours and asked specifically that the Third Hour be read to him. I saw this morning that he received several of his collaborators: Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of state; Archbishop Leonardo Sandri; Cardinal Camillo Ruini; Cardinal Edmund Szoka; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of Cardinals; Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi. The situation now is stationary. The conditions of notable seriousness remain. The biological parameters are unsettled. His blood pressure is unstable. The pope continues to remain lucid, fully aware and, I must say, very serene. Several minutes ago he asked that some passages from Sacred Scriptures be read to him, and he attentively followed this reading."