Thousands of people have gathered tonight in Saint Peter’s Square in Rome, and in churches around the world, as the health of Pope John Paul II continues to deteriorate. The Pope received the last rites of the church yesterday. This morning, his staff announced the appointment of a flurry of new bishops and archbishops.

Pope John Paul II leaves a deep imprint on the Catholic Church and beyond. In his 26 years as the head of the Catholic Church, he crusaded against communism, denounced unbridled capitalism, and spoke against political repression. He took more than 100 trips abroad. He won deep support but also alienated many Catholics for his conservative social positions on gay rights, abortion, the role of women.

Hear a discussion on how the Roman Catholic Church and the world are confronting the fading light of Pope John Paul II.

Guests:

Sophie Aire, Rome correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor;
Stephen Pope, Associate Professor of Theology at Boston College;
Monsignor Robert Sheeran, President of Seton Hall University, and a leading figure in Catholic education in the U.S.;
Father James Heft, Professor of Faith and Culture and Chancellor of the University of Dayton;
Bill Thorn, Associate Professor of Journalism at Marquette Univeristy;
Cathleen Kaveny, Professor of Law and Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame