John Paul Ii

THE GOOD PASTOR gives his life for the flock. A frail John Paul II voiced that simple declaration on his silver anniversary. It was his way of saying he intended to carry on his mission despite his infirmities. Now, at his death, his words stand as a testament to his 26-year papacy. In his last years, Parkinson's disease crippled the globe-trotting, multilingual pope, who as a younger bishop cut a dashing figure on the ski slopes. He became stooped and could barely walk and, at the end, was robbed of his ability to speak.

Conservative media outlets have criticized the Occupy Wall Street protesters as mob-like, left-wing extremists with no voice and no real agenda - or as the Democrats' answer to the tea party. But the protesters' critique of capitalist society can't be so easily dismissed. Pope John Paul II was a great leader who played an important role in the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin wall. But he was also a sharp critic of the shortcomings of capitalist societies that were not balanced with morals and values.

VATICAN CITY - Workers hauled in trunks marked diplomatico. Crews labored over the entrance foyer. Maids gathered in the basement cafeteria to rest for a moment. There were so many things left to do yesterday to prepare the Casa Santa Marta for the conclave of cardinals it host to beginning April 18, when they begin their secret deliberations to elect a new pope. "Yes, I'm nervous," sighed one maid, who declined to give her name because neither the hotel staff nor its construction crews are allowed to speak publicly about their role.

With prayers, processions and Polish food, Roman Catholics in Baltimore joined millions of other church members worldwide Sunday in celebrating the life of the late Pope John Paul II — the only pontiff to have visited the city — as he moved a step closer to sainthood. Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien, head of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, presided over a Mass at the Basilica of the Assumption marking the Sunday after Easter as well as the beatification in Rome of John Paul II. Then, after the Mass, the archbishop led a procession around the block to a "peace" garden dedicated to the late pope for an outdoor prayer service there.

9:50 a.m. Arrival and welcome at Baltimore-Washington Insternational Airport.8 p.m. Pope John Paul II departs on a TWA flight for Rome.

Catholicos Garegin I, 66, leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church, died yesterday in Echmiadzin, Armenia, of larynx cancer, three days before a planned meeting with an envoy sent by Pope John Paul II. Earlier this summer, the Armenian church canceled a trip by Pope John Paul II to Armenia because of Catholicos' failing health. The Vatican had scheduled a July 2-4 papal visit to Armenia as part of John Paul's efforts to improve relations with other Christian denominations.Pub Date: 6/30/99

Here is an excerpt of an editorial from the New York Times, which was published Friday.THE FLU that intruded on Pope John Paul II's 13-day trip to Poland was a reminder of the frailty of the 79-year-old pontiff, adding special poignancy to a visit already full of emotion. Poles, while rejecting many of the pope's doctrinal orthodoxies, nevertheless revere the Roman Catholic Church, which for centuries has been viewed as the guardian of sovereignty in an often-subjugated land. Many Poles believe that no one did more than John Paul II to save Poland from Moscow's rule.

Baltimoreans of all faiths must be sad to learn that the health of Pope John Paul II prevents him from visiting Baltimore on Oct. 23.As the birthplace of American Catholicism, home and see of Archbishop John Carroll, site of the first Catholic cathedral, Baltimore had looked forward to a papal visit. Even the baseball strike, in its one positive manifestation, had cleared the way for an uncomplicated use of Camden Yards.Still, the pope now intends to visit the United States in November of next year on the occasion of the United Nations' 50th birthday, and we certainly hope he will include Baltimore then.

In 1811, the first steam-powered ferryboat, the Juliana, was put into operation between New York City and Hoboken, N.J. In 1942, the World War II Battle of Cape Esperance began in the Solomons, resulting in an American victory over the Japanese. In 1962, Pope John XXIII convened the first session of the Roman Catholic Churchs 21st Ecumenical Council, also known as Vatican II. In 1968, Apollo 7, the first manned Apollo mission, was launched with astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Fulton Eisele and R. Walter Cunningham aboard.

Archbishop Paul C. Marcinkus, 84, who was the top official at the Vatican's bank before a huge banking scandal ended his tenure there in 1989, was found dead Monday at his home in Sun City, Ariz. A cause of death was not announced. He headed the Vatican bank, formally known as the Institute for Religious Works, for 20 years. But in a sweeping restructuring of the scandal-tainted bank in 1989, the Vatican eliminated his post. He remained on in the deputy governor's post before retiring in 1990.

John Kennedy Gutierrez, a Woodberry-based metals artisan who was part of the design team for the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden, died of cancer Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Medfield resident was 45. "He had an indomitable spirit and the things he made were magic," said Baltimore developer William Struever. "He was a rock, a pillar of goodwill. His works were gorgeous but always enormously practical." Mr. Gutierrez worked with numerous architects and designers and helped create Woodberry Kitchen, Tapas Teatro, Red Star and Copra restaurants.

John Kennedy Gutierrez, a Woodberry-based metals artisan who was part of the design team for the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden, died of cancer Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Medfield resident was 45. "He had an indomitable spirit and the things he made were magic," said Baltimore developer William Struever. "He was a rock, a pillar of goodwill. His works were gorgeous but always enormously practical." Mr. Gutierrez worked with numerous architects and designers and helped create the Woodberry Kitchen, Tapas Teatro, Red Star and Copra restaurants.

For religious leaders, it's a spiritual oasis near the heart of the city. For nature lovers, it's a much-needed green space, open to all. For those who value historic architecture, it symbolizes the failure of the preservation process in Baltimore. Even though it covers no more ground than a tennis court, it's hard to think of another public space with the ability to trigger so many conflicting reactions as the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden that was dedicated last week. The $1.5 million garden was built as a complement to the recently restored Basilica of the Assumption, which occupies the same block in Baltimore's Cathedral Hill district.

Calling for a "sanctuary in a suffering city," Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien dedicated the Pope John Paul II Prayer Garden in downtown Baltimore yesterday before unveiling a bronze statue of the late pontiff. Speaking at Charles and Franklin streets, the archbishop said he hoped the new green space - the site of the demolished 100-year-old Rochambeau apartments - would become a symbol of the rebirth of "many, many more Baltimore street corners." He described Baltimore as a city "where too many street corners are just places where drug deals take place and where gunfire inevitably follows."

It may seem an unlikely story, but Joe Sheppard's career as portraitist to popes and cardinals had its genesis in a boxing ring. "Years ago, I used to box every Saturday at Mack Lewis' gym on Broadway," recalls the 77-year-old Maryland artist, who now lives part of each year in Pietrasanta, Italy. "One day, this guy who had been playing basketball comes over and says, `Can I box with you?' So I said OK. I never knew his name or anything." Years later, Sheppard ran into the fellow at a party.

ROME -- In life, Pope John Paul II moved crowds like a rock star. Now a cadre of theologians, cardinals and medical doctors from the Vatican will determine if the late pontiff should soar to the level of sainthood. A third-floor office that overlooks St. Peter's Square, which echoed in April 2005 with funeral prayers for the former Karol Wojtyla, is where the decision will be weighed. By April 2, all documents on the spiritual life and times of the Polish pope will be carted into the rarefied sanctum of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Interfaith center congregations sponsoring concert Choirs, instrumental ensembles, folk groups and soloists from six congregations at Oakland Mills Interfaith Center will perform in a benefit concert Sunday to celebrate the facility's 30th anniversary. The concert, "Celebrating Community," will be held at 2:30 p.m. in Room 200 of the center. Light refreshments will be served at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, and can be ordered by calling Beryl Little, 410-992-0254. The suggested donation is $8 for adults; $5 for children; and $25 a family.

BUCHAREST, Romania -- As Pope John Paul II prayed at an open-air Orthodox Mass yesterday at the side of Patriarch Teoctist, Cristian Andrei, 40, examined the historic moment from mammon's perspective."

Archbishop Paul C. Marcinkus, 84, who was the top official at the Vatican's bank before a huge banking scandal ended his tenure there in 1989, was found dead Monday at his home in Sun City, Ariz. A cause of death was not announced. He headed the Vatican bank, formally known as the Institute for Religious Works, for 20 years. But in a sweeping restructuring of the scandal-tainted bank in 1989, the Vatican eliminated his post. He remained on in the deputy governor's post before retiring in 1990.

Two major networks are about to unveil their competing biographical treatments of Pope John Paul II, arriving as sober-minded preludes to later, lighter holiday fare. First, there's ABC's TV movie Have No Fear: The Life of John Paul II (8 p.m. tonight), then CBS' two-part miniseries, Pope John Paul II (beginning 9 p.m. Sunday). The verdict is fairly straightforward. The more star-studded CBS effort (which concludes at 8 p.m. Wednesday) is twice as long and twice as effective. ABC's Have No Fear is dignified and respectful, and it covers an even wider span of the late pope's life than the CBS venture.