GUEST, I know the Pope is Polish. His election as the first non-Italian in, like, forever, was a surprise and "broke the mold" for all future conclaves. Re-read what I wrote.

Are you correct in your assertion the "he" appointed a bunch of bishops and cardinals today?

I wouldn't be surprised, actually. The Pope has long been a figurehead as far as day-to-day operations are concerned, and the clique that runs the Vatican is notorious for how jealously they weild their considerable power. The possible scenario of a semi-comatose JP hanging on to life ~ and nominal authority ~ for weeks/months/years, a la Ms. Schiavo, would provide a field day (well, more than one day, certainly) for that conniving bunch.

Despite the power of the "invisible" rulers of the Vatican, the Pope himself has tremendous influence and is probably the one World Leader with the greatest personal power of all. JPII, for all his faults and shortcomings, seems to me to have been a basically positive force throughout his tenure.