Belgian cardinal says pope's health has 'seriously weakened'

Published: 2004-08-18

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNS) -- Concelebrating Mass with Pope John Paul II in Lourdes, France, Aug. 15, Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels saw up close what millions saw on television: The pope's health has "seriously weakened." Pope John Paul's difficulty kneeling at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes Aug. 14 and in reading his homily at Mass the next day appeared even more serious given the various interpretations of a phrase spoken by the pope at the Lourdes grotto. The Vatican's English translation of the pope's remarks before the evening rosary said, "Kneeling here, before the grotto of Massabielle, I feel deeply that I have reached the goal of my pilgrimage." Rather than "goal" or the Italian translation's equivalent, "meta," the French text used "le terme" -- the end. Cardinal Danneels, archbishop of Mechelen and Brussels, told a Belgian newspaper Aug. 16 that by saying he had reached the end of his pilgrimage, the pope could have meant two things, "his farewell to Lourdes or maybe to his life." The cardinal later clarified, saying he did not believe the pope was on the verge of death, but that the pope realized "the end is approaching."

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