This collection of entries is from April 02, 2005.
"The Holy Father is deceased this evening at 9:37 in his private apartment," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a written statement.
"Our beloved Holy Father John Paul II has returned to his home. Let us pray for him," he added.
"The Holy Father, John Paul II, died at 9:37 p.m. (1937GMT) in his private apartment," the message read. "All procedures foreseen in the Apostolic Constitution `Universi Dominici Gregis' (`Of the Lord's Whole Flock'), promulgated by John Paul II on February 22, 1996, have been activated." - quote from something so high-tech from an institution so old - Vatican email
The pope's death marks the beginning of a carefully scripted ritual that culminates in the election of a new leader for the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics.
It starts with a formal deathbed pronouncement in Latin, that the pope is "truly" dead.
The Vatican's chamberlain, now Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo of Spain, verifies the papal death -- which in the past was done by striking the pope's forehead with a silver hammer. The chamberlain, or camerlengo, then calls out to the pope three times by his baptismal name. When the pope does not respond, the camerlengo then announces "the pope is dead."
He destroys the symbols of the pope's authority: the fisherman's ring and the dies used to make lead seals for apostolic letters. He seals off the pope's bedroom and study, takes charge of the Holy See's property and arranges the funeral and the conclave at which the College of Cardinals will elect a new pope.
Universi Dominici Gregis (February 22, 1996)
Carol and I had been out looking at sofa's all damn day (sorry... furniture shopping is a grueling sport, what with all of the looking and deciding and the test driving, all coupled with the thrill of avoiding the sharks at every twist and turn in the showroom). When we got home - Ziggy's van was still in the driveway - BUT he was just finishing up cleaning. Ziggy just left 5 minutes ago. The floor Right now is a high gloss, with the last finishing coat just applied before he left. We can't walk on it today, so God knows what the kitchen looks like - we can't get there.
Great work, though. It's really unbelievable to see.
Saturday.
7:45am.
Ziggy is downstairs working. Yes, he's working on Saturday to get everything done today.