From Catholic News Service

Pope was sympathetic to Tibetan struggle: Dalai Lama

NEW DELHI (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II was sympathetic to the Tibetan struggle for freedom but could not express this officially, said the Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism. "The Pope was very sympathetic to the Tibetan problem. Of course, as the head of an institution trying to establish good relations with China and (someone) seriously concerned about the status of millions of Christians in China, he could not express this publicly or officially," the Dalai Lama said in his statement of condolence after the Pope died April 2. His remarks were reported by UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The April 3 statement was issued from the northern Indian township of Dharamsala, where the Tibetan government-in-exile has been based since the Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959.

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Up to 2 million Poles arrive in Rome for Pope John Paul II's funeral

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Up to 2 million Poles are believed to have reached Rome for the funeral of Pope John Paul II. "For today at least, this is our second Poland," said Maria Przytula, 60, a retired lawyer from the southern city of Wroclaw, who traveled with her son and grandson. "The Poles are united here -- it's an exceptional experience of joy and thanksgiving for all he did for us," she said. Przytula was one of thousands lined up along Rome's Via della Conciliazione to enter St. Peter's Square in a mass of red and white Polish flags. Mieczyslaw Kryminek, a worker from the shipyard in Gdansk, birthplace of Poland's Solidarity movement, said Poles were determined to reach Rome to pay homage to their "second father."

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In spiritual testament, Pope reflects on communist persecution, aging

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In his spiritual testament, Pope John Paul II reflected on the communist persecution of the church, the attempt to assassinate him, the fall of the Iron Curtain and his own aging. As his 80th birthday approached in 2000, he said he considered resigning and hoped God would show him when it was time for his ministry as head of the Catholic Church to end. The College of Cardinals released an Italian translation of the Polish text April 7. The Pope's final spiritual message to the church was written during his annual Lenten retreats in seven different years, beginning in 1979 and ending in 2000. The only person still alive mentioned by name in the document was Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served as his personal secretary, first in Krakow, Poland, then at the Vatican. He thanked "Father Stanislaw" for his long and understanding "collaboration and assistance."

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Cardinals set April 18 for start of conclave

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As a record number of mourners continued to file past Pope John Paul II's body, the world's cardinals set April 18 for the start of the election of his successor. The cardinals, in their third day of meetings, also read Pope John Paul's last will and testament. The document, about 15 pages long, will be published April 7, the Vatican said. There are 117 cardinals under age 80 and therefore eligible to vote in the conclave, which will begin during the afternoon of April 18 after a morning Mass. It was not known if all the voting-age cardinals would be able to make the trip to Rome. The cardinals may vote during their first afternoon session or may begin voting the next morning. After that, balloting is done twice each morning and twice each afternoon until a Pope is elected, with occasional pauses for reflection.

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Rome braces for Papal funeral; at least 2 million expected

ROME (CNS) -- Rome officials were bracing for at least 2 million people to descend on the city for Pope John Paul II's April 8 funeral at the Vatican, said the city's mayor. "We really don't know how many people there will be," said Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni. Air traffic above Rome will be closed April 6-8 for all but Italian and NATO military planes and specially authorized carriers like Air Force One carrying U.S. President George W. Bush. The city government also announced a total ban on private car traffic, for at least the hours of the funeral. Bush arrived late April 6 with the U.S. delegation that included his wife, Laura; his father, former President George H.W. Bush; former President Bill Clinton; and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Members of the delegation knelt before the Pope's coffin for about six minutes before exiting.

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