It was ten years ago today that Pope John Paul II died .. What started today in 2005 was a strange odyssey of prophecy and paranoia.. Pope John Paul II was made pope during an eclipse.. His funeral took place during an eclipse, as well..
But I recall one strange and often neglected bit of history that made news at the time: He became the decomposing Pope. At the time, people who were attending days worth of a viewing for the Pope were horrified at the sight. Some even complained of a smell.. Pope John Paul was only ‘lightly’ embalmed ..As a report from the AP said in 2005:
"For a four-day viewing, injections of formaldehyde and other preserving liquids are necessary," Signoracci told The Associated Press, cautioning that he could not be certain what had been done without examining the body.
The Vatican has said John Paul’s body was not embalmed, only “prepared” for viewing by hundreds of thousands of mourners, refusing to elaborate on the procedure used.
John Paul died Saturday, and his remains were put on public view two days later, through Thursday. His funeral on St. Peter’s Square and burial beneath the basilica took place Friday.
Maria Campos Guereta, a 29-year-old banker from Jerez, Spain, was among the last mourners to file past the body Thursday. “Truth be told, he looked really haggard,” she said.
The entire world was watching, on live TV often, the Pope decomposing as the process of death overtook his body.. It was actually quite a creepy sight to behold, and one that our minds perhaps have tried to purposely forget..
For those who don’t remember the events of ten years ago or just weren’t paying attention due to age or place in the world, Pope John Paul’s death was a big deal.. It was earth-moving, and policy shifting.
But for me, what I will never personally forget, is the harbingers that occurred before his death—the white doves circling his head weeks before he died.. The thousands who gathered outside of the Vatican waiting for his passing… the election of Ratzinger.. The would be assassin calling himself a spiritual brother of John Paul..
And….that horrific sight of the pope decomposing before the eyes of the world’s population.. lightly embalmed and on display, rotting away.
April 2, 2005.. April 2 2015..
Ten years later, the news of the bizarre and strange continues.. Two more Popes since, and some would say a furtherance of prophecy..
