Pope asks Cardinals to pray for his mission
Again brushing aside any suggestion he might retire, Pope John Paul II asked cardinals on Saturday to pray for him so he could fulfil his mission “as long as the Lord wishes”.
A visibly moved John Paul made the comments at the end of a symposium of cardinals who had gathered in Rome to celebrate his 25th anniversary as pope.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, told the pontiff that all the prelates gathered had unanimously pledged their “faithful and total adhesion” to his teachings, as well as their “filial” attachment to him personally.
“I ask you to continue to pray for me so that I can faithfully fulfil my service to the church, as long as the Lord wishes,” John Paul responded.
The 83-year-old pope, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, slurred his words and didn’t read his whole speech. But he waved to the cardinals as they gave him a standing ovation at the end of the remarks.
Later, John Paul joined the cardinals at a special anniversary luncheon that featured shrimp mousse with vegetables, risotto with lemon and little ravioli filled with grouper and greens. The main course was orange duck and a veal stew with porcini mushrooms and white truffles, served with artichokes, asparagus and potatoes. Dessert was a giant cake in the shape of St Peter’s Square, followed by coffee and liqueurs.
The wine served was a Croatian vintage given to John Paul during his trip this summer, which marked his 100th foreign visit.
John Paul’s ailing health has fuelled speculation that he might step down, since he is no longer able to walk or complete many of his speeches. However, a high-ranking Vatican cardinal, Bernardin Gantin, stressed in an official speech to the symposium this week that popes serve for life.
