Pope John Paul II

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Book: John Paul II Whipped, Starved Himself

Pope self-flagellated in pursuit of 'Christian perfection,' says author

(Newser) - Pope John Paul II whipped himself with a belt, even on vacation, slept on the floor, and frequently denied himself food as acts of penitence, says a new book by the Polish prelate spearheading his sainthood case. The book Why He's a Saint also includes previously unpublished speeches and documents,...

Man Who Shot Pope John Paul Freed

Agca promises to reveal truth behind shooting, claims to be messiah

(Newser) - The Turkish man who shot and wounded Pope John Paul II in 1981 was freed yesterday after nearly 30 years in jail and has promised to tell the full story about the assassination attempt. Mehmet Ali Agca claimed after the shooting that Soviet agents were behind the attack—a theory...

Pope During Holocaust Moves Closer to Sainthood

Jewish groups wanted Vatican to wait; John Paul II also 'venerable'

(Newser) - Pope Benedict has moved two of his predecessors one step closer to sainthood, including a wartime pope dogged by criticism that he did too little to stop the Holocaust. Benedict declared Pius XII and John Paul II to be "venerable," the first of three steps to sainthood. The...

John Paul II's Attacker Wants Vatican Baptism

Man who shot pontiff seeks ceremony after prison release

(Newser) - The man who shot Pope John Paul II gets out of prison in January—and when he does, he wants to be baptized at the Vatican, his lawyer says. Over the years, Mehmet Ali Agca has claimed to be the Messiah or Jesus Christ, fueling speculation about his mental health...

UK Bans Ad With Lusty 'Pope'
 UK Bans Ad With Lusty 'Pope' 

Apr 2, 2009 4:02 AM CDT

UK Bans Ad With Lusty 'Pope'

It caused 'serious offense,' ad council rules

(Newser) - A British advertising commission has blocked the use of a dancing, beer-guzzling photo-manipulated "Pope John Paul II" in an advertisement promoting a nightclub, reports the Telegraph. "It was hugely offensive," said a spokeswoman for a Polish organization, one of several Catholics who complained about the brochure. "...

Vatican to Canonize Priest Who Aided Lepers

(Newser) - A 19th-century Belgian priest who ministered to leprosy patients in Hawaii will be declared a saint October 11, the AP reports. In July, Pope Benedict XVI approved a miracle attributed to Rev. Damien de Veuster's intercession, declaring that a Honolulu woman's recovery in 1999 from terminal lung cancer was the...

John Paul Wounded in '82 Stabbing by Priest

Testimony reveals pope sustained injuries, covered up by Rome, in attack at Fatima

(Newser) - Pope John Paul II was injured in a 1982 stabbing by a crazed priest, but the wound was kept secret until now, Reuters reports. The late pontiff was visiting a shrine in Portugal to give thanks for surviving an earlier assassination attempt when an ultra-conservative Spanish priest lunged at him...

Vatican Debates Paying Tribute to Galileo

Heretic remains a touchy subject in Catholic Church

(Newser) - Galileo Galilei is riling the Catholic church yet again, the Wall Street Journal reports, as an anonymous donor has offered to pay to erect a statue in the Vatican of Catholicism’s most famous heretic. But though the church has come around on science, Galileo remains a touchy subject. He’...

Vatican Mulls the Case for St. John Paul II

Even a beloved pope has to wait to see if he's sainthood material

(Newser) - He may have served as the spiritual leader for millions of Catholics for more than 26 years, but the soul of Pope John II is under intense scrutiny in Rome. The Washington Post takes a look at the office charged with determining whether the beloved pontiff is eligible for sainthood—...

'Monumental' US Visit Ahead
 'Monumental' US Visit Ahead 
UPDATED
Apr 15, 2008 5:05 PM CDT

'Monumental' US Visit Ahead

Unprecedented presidential welcome kick off Pope's jam-packed itinerary

(Newser) - Today's arrival of Pope Benedict XVI "had the look and feel of a monumental and historic event," a CNN correspondent notes—and the six-day visit will indeed be eventful. Benedict will speak to US Catholic leadership tomorrow after a welcoming ceremony at the White House, then visit the...

Benedict the Right Pope for Right Now: Noonan
Benedict the Right Pope
for Right Now: Noonan
opinion
Apr 11, 2008 1:16 PM CDT

Benedict the Right Pope for Right Now: Noonan

Internet pontiff succeeds TV phenomenon

(Newser) - John Paul II was an incredible Pope, but Benedict might be just what the world needs today, writes Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal. Benedict, who "lacks an immediately accessible flair," succeeded a telegenic "showman" who brought joy to the faithful. "John Paul made you...

'Saint Factory' Slows Down Production
'Saint Factory' Slows Down Production
Feb 19, 2008 11:57 AM CST

'Saint Factory' Slows Down Production

New Vatican rules will make getting a halo a little harder

(Newser) - The Vatican is moving to slow traffic on the road to sainthood, the BBC reports. Critics accused the Vatican of becoming a "saint factory" under the late Pope John Paul II, who created more saints than all his predecessors combined. The new, more rigorous guidelines under Benedict XVI require...

Top Mormon Leader Hinckley Dead at 97

President-prophet brought church closer to American mainstream

(Newser) - Gordon B. Hinckley, at 97 the longest-lived president-prophet in the history of the Mormon church, died yesterday of complications of old age. Hinckley, whose energy and extensive world travels earned comparisons to Pope John Paul II, oversaw his church for 12 years during an era of unprecedented growth, the Los ...

Pope Rips Christmas Materialism
Pope Rips Christmas Materialism
Dec 9, 2007 12:36 PM CST

Pope Rips Christmas Materialism

Continues Vatican battle against rampant consumerism

(Newser) - Continuing the Vatican's battle against rampant consumerism on the occasion of Jesus' birthday, Pope Benedict XVI today blasted a pervasive "materialistic mentality" in "the way of living out and perceiving Christmas." The pontiff urged pilgrims gathered below his window on St. Peter's Square instead to "fill...

Pope Will Visit US in April
Pope Will Visit US in April
Nov 12, 2007 1:10 PM CST

Pope Will Visit US in April

Pontiff will go to DC, Ground Zero, Yankee Stadium

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI will travel to the US in April, visiting the White House, Ground Zero, and the United Nations, the Washington Post reports. On his first trip to the country as pope, and the first papal visit since John Paul II's stop in St. Louis in 1999, he'll say...

Pope's Robe Shredded For Relics
Pope's Robe Shredded For Relics
Sep 25, 2007 3:24 AM CDT

Pope's Robe Shredded For Relics

100,000 fragments available online for a donation

(Newser) - A white robe worn by Pope John Paul II has been cut into 100,000 tiny fragments which are being distributed for donations as religious relics to aid prayer and achieve miracles, reports the London Times. The operation is run by the Diocese of Rome and is causing concern in...

Did Docs Speed Pope's Death?
Did Docs Speed Pope's Death?
Sep 23, 2007 5:31 PM CDT

Did Docs Speed Pope's Death?

Doctor claims euthanasia was behind John Paul II’s death

(Newser) - An Italian doctor is claiming that Pope John Paul II’s 2005 death was hastened by measures that would qualify as euthanasia—a practice the Catholic Church condemns. She believes the Vatican stressed the Pope’s breathing problems in public reports to conceal the real threat to his life, which...

Website Helps Speed Sainthood
Website Helps Speed Sainthood
Sep 22, 2007 9:00 AM CDT

Website Helps Speed Sainthood

Devotees can offer prayer or donation via a Vatican-maintained site

(Newser) - The Vatican has invited followers of John Paul II  to offer prayers and donations to boost the process of making him a saint . A website set up for that purpose gives visitors the opportunity to see the late pontiff''s tomb via the 24-hour webcam and request pieces of the popular...

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