# Pope Finally Passes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 2, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437 "2005-04-02T20:00:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/1 "2005-04-02T20:00:58Z")
The Vatican’s released word that he’s gone. ---
**Author:** ![IrreverentTone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@IrreverentTone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IrreverentTone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/2 "2005-04-02T20:04:00Z")
Requiescat in pace. ---
**Author:** ![Rhubarb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/59ef9b/32.png) [@Rhubarb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhubarb)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/3 "2005-04-02T20:06:04Z")
So, … Who had April 2nd in the pool? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/4 "2005-04-02T20:08:10Z")
Who “runs” things now? How long do they wait before starting the replacement process? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/5 "2005-04-02T20:08:42Z")
Rip ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/6 "2005-04-02T20:09:54Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Who “runs” things now? > > How long do they wait before starting the replacement process? Two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/7 "2005-04-02T20:10:06Z")
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/8 "2005-04-02T20:10:12Z")
The Pope, the Pope… isn’t he that guy with the funny hat? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/9 "2005-04-02T20:10:39Z")
CNN still has him listed as being alive… And I’ve already heard he was dead twice now when he was still alive. (I’m not dead yet! I feel happppppyyyyyyyyyy!!!) Do you have a cite? ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/10 "2005-04-02T20:11:29Z")
9:37 PM Rome time, about 45 minutes ago. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/11 "2005-04-02T20:12:28Z")
[Front page, M$NBC.](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/12 "2005-04-02T20:12:58Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Who “runs” things now? > > How long do they wait before starting the replacement process? There are 9 days of funeral proceedings. The conclave to choose the next pope can start no sooner than 15 days after the death of the pope and no later than 20 days. After that, it’s up to the conclave. The Cardinal Chamberlain is the administrator of the Vatican during this time (that’s Cardinal Eduardo Martínez Somalo of Spain). For more detailed information, see [this](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/international/europe/02vatican.html) NYTimes article. If there is an afterlife, may his body be whole as he arrives there. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/13 "2005-04-02T20:13:16Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > CNN still has him listed as being alive… And I’ve already heard he was dead twice now when he was still alive. There’s a big red banner across the top of [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) that says he’s dead, eventhough the article hasn’t updated, yet. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/14 "2005-04-02T20:13:50Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > CNN still has him listed as being alive… And I’ve already heard he was dead twice now when he was still alive. MSNBC needs to compete with Fox somehow! BTW, The news is on the first page of [www.msnbc.com](http://www.msnbc.com) Maybe it’s true this time? Or maybe he’s “in and out” of death? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/15 "2005-04-02T20:14:38Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#): > > There’s a big red banner across the top of [CNN.com](http://CNN.com) that says he’s dead, eventhough the article hasn’t updated, yet. Ah, thanks… I guess I had an older cached version in my browser. I don’t believe in an afterlife or a soul, but I hope he ended his life without too much pain and with dignity. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/16 "2005-04-02T20:16:42Z")
I’d just like to pay tribute, as an atheist scientist raised Jewish, that the man did a whole lot that had positive benefit not only to the Catholic faithful. From visiting the synagogue of Rome in 1986, to his forgiveness of Galileo and acceptance of evolution, as well as countless other things that he did to build bridges and act as a force of peace. I have little comment or knowledge on his leadership on the Catholic issues, but as a scientist and a Jew, I have tremendous respect for those actions. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/17 "2005-04-02T20:22:17Z")
I appreciate that. And if anybody has any negative things to say, please wait a day and start another thread for them. A billion of your fellow human beings are mourning tonight. Thank you for an amazing life, Holy Father. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/18 "2005-04-02T20:31:33Z")
At first when I read that I thought, “A billion? No way!” [Turns out I was wrong.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4243727.stm) Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt anything. To those in mourning, best wishes. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/19 "2005-04-02T20:35:52Z")
Rest In Peace and in the hand of God, JP. You were a good man. ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Dark\_Side\_of\_the\_Floyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Side_of_the_Floyd)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437/20 "2005-04-02T20:46:47Z")
Will we get to see the silver hammer (ritual? Ceremony?) covered on the news? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pope-finally-passes/297437.md?page=2)