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Pope says God wants him to stay
VATICAN CITY -- Marking 25 years as pontiff, Pope John Paul II told followers that God was asking him to continue leading the Roman Catholic Church despite his frail health. "He (God), while knowing my human fragility, encourages me to respond with faith ... and he invites me to assume the responsibilities that he himself has entrusted to me," the 83-year-old pope said in a homily before tens of thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square Thursday night. The pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is unable to walk without assistance, delivered the homily during Mass at the Vatican. Appearing frail and speaking with a wavering voice, the pope told his followers, "A good shepherd stays with his flock" -- a line thought by analysts to be a direct reference to the question of whether he might resign. The pontiff also appealed to Catholics "to continue my work of love." In his homily, the pope recalled the day in 1978 he was elected by cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. "How could I, humanly speaking, not tremble? How could such a huge responsibility not weigh on me," he said. As has become recent custom, the pope read only parts of his homily and an aide read most of it to conserve the pontiff's strength. The pope sat in a chair rolled onto a dais in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. His face was often contorted and his right hand shook, but the pope was actively involved during the two-hour Mass, participating in all parts of the service. In an opening greeting, close papal aide Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger praised John Paul for his tireless work over the past 2 1/2 decades. (Full story) "Holy Father, today the entire church thanks you for the service you have given in 25 years. Even non-Catholic brothers and sisters, men of good will of other religions and convictions thank you," Ratzinger said. "You turned to young and old, rich and poor, powerful and humble, and always showed, according to the example of Jesus Christ, a particular love for the poor and the defenseless," Ratzinger said. John Paul II is the third-longest serving pontiff and has been lauded with taking the church out of the Vatican with his many miles of traveling. He is also credited with helping bring down the Soviet empire thanks to his private and public support of the Polish trade union movement Solidarity. But concerns have been raised about the pope's health. Speculation surrounds whether he will resign, while rumors are growing about a likely successor. Vatican officials deny he will stand down. Critics also say the pope has been too traditionalist in his doctrines, opposing women priests and same-sex marriage and insisting on celibacy in the priesthood. In a 192-page exhortation to bishops released Thursday, the pope made a veiled reference to the recent sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church. In a section of the document on the need for chastity in the church, he said bishops must encourage priests to remain faithful to their vocations "and to the requirements of an exemplary life in the exercise of the ministry." The apostolic exhortation is an important document which spells out a range of directives to bishops across the world. CNN Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher, who has seen the document, described the veiled reference to the church's recent sex abuse scandal as "surprising."
"It doesn't use those words in particular but it does talk about crimes committed by church ministers and that bishops must be especially vigilant in the reparation of these scandals," Gallagher said. The scandal of clergy abuse has hit a number of countries, including the United States, Ireland and the Philippines, resulting in the removal of a number of priests, the resignation of several bishops and large damage settlements against the church. Celebrations to mark the silver anniversary began on Wednesday when a packed St. Peter's Square heard the pontiff speak at his weekly general audience. Celebrations also include the beatification of Mother Teresa and the creation of 31 new cardinals. Many see the elevation to the College of Cardinals -- the elite group that will choose his successor -- as an attempt by an ailing pope to influence the selection. The beatification of Mother Teresa on Sunday will break with tradition. John Paul has speeded up the process for the nun, who cared for the destitute, by waiving the mandatory five-year waiting period before formal evaluation of a candidate for beatification can begin. (Full story) Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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