Black Out of the Churches

April 2nd, 21.37pm. Churches worldwide lost their guiding star. A star named John Paul II aka Karol Wojtyla.

Personally a free-thinker, I've never heard of the Pope's name, much less knowing his capability as a Pope, but the past few days, Yahoo News carried bulletins of his ailing health. Snapshots of his life were linked, indicating a confirmed lost of a leader after the Pope decided not to return to the hospital for his urinary tract infection. He chose to return to God.

A strong man he was, at age 84, in the last few days of his life, he attended mass despite his physical pain, smiled at the crowds to reassure them of his state of health. Being the 1st non Italian Pope, he brought many diverse views with him, transforming public's image of the church.

In his eyes, I saw a kind soul, a fighting spirit to bring about better life for his pilgrims and a loving heart. His smile could warm any cold hearts and console any lost souls. He travelled far and wide to experience the life of his believers and to spread the faith. He was in the news for the right things, standing by his own principles. He chose to reach out to the masses than stay in his posh Vatican house. He was still guiding faithfuls until the second he stopped breathing, and the world started tearing.

In the next few days, cardinals will locked themselves in a conclave to vote the next Pope. Strangely enough, I was in the middle of reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Vatican, St Peter's, cardinals, conclaves, seem eeriely familiar. The new Pope will still be born with a puff of white smoke. Similarly, the Pope in the book left the world due to a cardiac arrest in his sleep (although Illuminati claimed death by poisoning). Pope John Paul II had a septic shock and an irreversible cardio-circulatory collapse. But Illuminati would not appear like in the books, the next Pope will arrive to pick up where Pope John Paul II had left behind.

Condolences to all Roman Catholics of the world.

*Note: Terri Schiavo passed on on 31st March 2005, ending her fight with life, but the living continued their fight.