Last Thursday, around 6:00, Rome was hit by a terrific rainstorm. The sky darkened and a deluge engulfed the city that lasted for over an hour. The day had been beautiful and the rain really seemed to come out of nowhere. I worked on some class work at school while waiting for the storm to stop. Thursdays are the end of the school week for me and I was in a hurry to get my weekend started. After the rain ended I made my way to the school residence on the opposite side of the Tiber from where I live to participate in a poker tournament some other students had arranged. I got in the game and was doing pretty well for myself. We had narrowed the field from 16 to 4 when someone came into the room to say that CNN was reporting that Pope John Paul II was receiving his last rites. We all knew that il Papa, as the Romans call him, was very sick but this announcement came as a shock. We put on the TV to see broadcasts from St. Peter's square just up the road and decided to go to the Piazza to see what was going on in person. A crowd was forming as we arrived, but police had blocked off the Piazza. Several news agencies, speaking numerous languages were interviewing people concerning the breaking story. It did not look good. Septic shock from a urinary track infection had given the Pope a high fever and caused his blood pressure to decline. He asked not to be transported to the hospital and to remain in the Papal Apartment. We held vigil with the others who had come to show their support. Many people began to pray. We gazed up at the lights that illuminated the windows of the Pope's quarters knowing he was suffering greatly. We wondered if this was truly the end of one of the greatest papacies in history.

Friday came and Pope John Paul's condition continued to worsen. Piazza San Pietro had been opened and an enormous crowd had gathered. I was supposed to attend political rallies for the up coming regional elections, but these were all canceled out of respect. At school or at my apartment I followed the reports from the Vatican. The streets of Rome seemed somber. The city it seemed had already begun to mourn the charismatic and beloved Papa, a man the Romans are sure cannot be equaled by his successor. Pope John Paul was always reaching out to people especially the youth regardless of where they came from. And although considerably weakened on Saturday night he was able to comment on the predominately young crowd that he was told was outside his residence. He said about the crowd to the people at his bedside: "I have searched for you. Now you have come and I thank you."

By Saturday the Pope's fever was rising, his blood pressure continued to decline, and he began to slip in and out of consciousness. Members of the College of Cardinals began to come to Rome to pay their final respects. I walked home after doing some work at school and noticed that the city had become colder than it had been in weeks. I reached my apartment and turned on the TV which interspersed live reports with footage of Pope John Paul, young and energetic, exhibiting the qualities that had made his Papacy so great. Piazza San Pietro was at capacity with people patient and praying. Around 9:30 Pope John Paul II passed away. After the announcement the city of Rome filled with bells ringing. Rome and the World had lost an incredible person.