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Pope John Paul II: A Tribute The spiritual leader of 1 billion Catholics has died. Illness and suffering have marked the last days of the 84-year-old pontiff's quarter-century as the head of the Roman Catholic Church. His papacy has been among the longest and most activist in history.
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Pope John Paul II: A Tribute

The spiritual leader of 1 billion Catholics dies, ending one of history's most activist papacies.

Hopeful Pilgrims Ignore Pleas to Stay Out of Rome

One day before Pope John Paul II's funeral, pilgrims are ignoring official requests to stay away from the city center. Trains, buses and planes continue to carry the faithful to Rome, where they hope to bid farewell to the Pope.

Hopeful Pilgrims Ignore Pleas to Stay Out of Rome

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One Family's Wait to Pay Respects to the Pope

This evening in St. Peter's Square, four days of public visits to Pope John Paul II's body came to a close. Among those who said goodbye Thursday were many Polish-Americans. Emily Harris followed one family's journey.

One Family's Wait to Pay Respects to the Pope

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Pope Sometimes Criticized Bush Policies

President Bush is in Rome in advance of Friday's papal funeral. The president met with the pope three times, most recently last June. Bush frequently praised the pope's promotion of freedom and his stance on abortion. But the two also had disagreements.

Pope Sometimes Criticized Bush Policies

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Catholic Church Experiences Geographical Shift

The death of Pope John Paul II has given the Catholic church a moment to assess the shifting demographics of Catholicism. As interest in religion in Europe wanes, the centers of Catholicism are shifting to Latin America, Asia and Africa.

Catholic Church Experiences Geographical Shift

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Pope Leaves Deep Legacy in Africa

While the number of Catholics is dwindling in other parts of the world, the figure in Africa has doubled in the past two decades, to more than 100 million. Nearly 30 million Congolese are Catholic, and Pope John Paul II visited the Democratic Republic of Congo twice during his papacy. A look at the pontiff's legacy there.

Pope Leaves Deep Legacy in Africa

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Opus Dei and the Pope

Members of the conservative Roman Catholic group Opus Dei occupy leadership positions throughout the church. The late Pope John Paul II made the founder a saint in 2004. But critics of the movement accuse Opus Dei of unscrupulous brainwashing.

Opus Dei and the Pope

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The Political Legacy of Pope John Paul II

NPR's Eric Weiner reports on the political legacy of the late Pope John Paul II. The pontiff, who died Saturday, played a part in the demise of communism in Europe and worked to bring about peace in the Middle East.

The Political Legacy of Pope John Paul II

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Choosing the Next Pope

Writer Greg Tobin discusses the process of choosing the next pope. The selection process involves a centuries old and very secret ritual known as the conclave. Tobin is the author of Selecting the Pope: Uncovering the Mysteries of Papal Elections.

Choosing the Next Pope

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Thousands Mourn Pope in Mass at St. Peter's

Tens of thousand of people poured into Saint Peter's Square in Rome to celebrate the life of Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday at 84. Cardinal Angelo Sodano said the church's "unforgettable father" had been called to God after leading the church into the third millennium.

Thousands Mourn Pope in Mass at St. Peter's

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The Pope's Roots Thrive in Poland

The news of the pope's death hits especially hard in Poland, where thousands of the faithful had been praying for his recovery, even in the face of John Paul's sharply declining health. NPR's Emily Harris reports from southern Poland on how the pope's personal history has become woven into the landscape.

The Pope's Roots Thrive in Poland

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The Life of Pope John Paul II

The life of Pope John Paul II was extraordinary, from his boyhood in Poland, to his rise through the church hierarchy and his 26-year papacy. He resisted communist rule in his homeland, reached out to other faiths, and traveled widely across the world. But his conservative theology did not win over all Catholics.

The Life of Pope John Paul II

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Prayers at the Vatican as a Pope Passes

Pope John Paul II dies in Rome at 84 after a long and visible struggle with Parkinson's disease and other ailments. The pope's death was announced at the Vatican. Outside, thousands had gathered for days to pray for the pontiff, and the crowd grew as news of the pope's death spread.

Prayers at the Vatican as a Pope Passes

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