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Pope marks 50 years as priest, announces memoirs
Thanks God during emotional service
November 1, 1996
Web posted at: 9:50 a.m. EST (1450 GMT)In this story:
VATICAN CITY (CNN) -- Following an emotional Mass marking his 50th anniversary as a priest, Pope John Paul II announced Friday that he had written his memoirs.
(721K/18 sec. QuickTime movie)
The book called "Gift and Mystery" and written in Polish, was due to be released by the Vatican this month. It was partly autobiographical and partly a reflection on the priesthood, a Vatican spokesman said.
"I thank God because he has allowed me to celebrate the holy Mass every day in these 50 years," the pope said during the service, his voice at times trembling with emotion.
Dressed in gold and white vestments, the 76-year-old pope appeared at times to be tired during the two-and-a-half hour Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. He is still recovering from an operation to remove his appendix last month.
After the Mass, the leader of the Roman Catholic church told thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that he had written "memoirs and reflections."
An earlier bestseller
The Pope's 1995 book, "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," was an international bestseller. It was published by commercial publishing houses around the world and the royalties went to charity.
The Pope, elected in 1978 as the first non-Italian pontiff in 450 years, recalled November 1, 1946 -- the day that he prostrated himself on the floor of a chapel in Krakow in his native Poland and was ordained a priest by the local bishop.
Karol Wojtyla was 26 years old at the time and had just lived through the ravages of World War II and the loss of all members of his immediate family.
Playwright turned priest
A handsome, engaging man who gave up a career as a playwright, he went on to become bishop and cardinal of Krakow before he began his history-making pontificate.
"These are memories that can't be erased and I am reliving them today with endless gratitude to the Lord," he said during the Mass, his voice occasionally cracking.
The solemn celebration in Christendom's largest church was the first time the Pope had presided at a public Mass since he was released from Rome's Gemelli hospital on October 15 after a 10-day stay.
The celebration was attended by cardinals and bishops from around the world as well as hundreds of priests from Rome, and Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
Trembling hand
The Pope's left hand trembled as he presided over the ceremony.
The Vatican has not denied a string of media reports that the Pope may be suffering from Parkinson's disease or a related neurological disorder.
Friday's Mass was one of a series of services planned to mark the 50th anniversary of the Pope's ordination. John Paul has invited priests from around the world who were also ordained in 1946 to come to Rome for services next week to celebrate their anniversary together.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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