The Vatican has confirmed that Pope John Paul II has recieved the sacriment of last rites, given to those who are extremely ill. This isn’t necessarily a sign that the Pontiff is near death, but the only other time in which he has been given last rites was after the 1981 assassination attempt that nearly killed him.
Pope John Paul II was one of the most influential figures in the struggle to bring down the Iron Curtain. His influence with the Polish Solidarity movement was key towards keeping that movement alive during the darkest days of Soviet oppression. He has been a beacon of hope to millions, and I pray he passes with the same quiet dignity in which he lived.
