Pope John Paul II has been Pope since 1978, since I was 2 years old. I can't compare him to any prior Popes, but being Catholic, and growing up in Catholic school, when they talked about The Pope, there is only one face to put to the title..not like "The President" that changes every 4- 8 years. The idea of him not being Pope, or maybe better said, someone else being Pope seems very weird to me.

Last Rites does not neccesarily mean death is imminent. They have actaully changed the name of the sacrement in the church, and it is more commonly called "Sacrement of the Sick" Many people experience this before surgeries, or when facing an on going illness. I don't know what it means as far as the Pope's helth goes, and obviously he is very sick, but I guess I wanted to explain a little more. To me, saying "Last Rites", seems to imply he will be gone at any moment, and that may not be the case.

I pray that when his time comes, he will go peacefully