"Would you like to see The Pope on the end of a rope? Do you think he's a fool?"
Black Sabbath always said it best.
One of Umlaut's early publishing influences was the legendary S.F. Metal fanzine Metal Mania.. From 1981-87, MM was published by the equally legendary S.F. Rock personae Ron Quintana and it was THE sounding board for the S.F. Metal Scene. Umlaut cut his teeth with Metal Mania taking photos and writing reviews / articles. Good times.
The Old School out there will remember back in 1982 when Karol Jozef Wojtyla (aka The Pope) was supposed to tour the U.S.. Metal Mania was there to cover that most METAL of events.
Metal Mania - Issue #2 - Late 1981
However, I think The Pope cancelled the tour because he was shot in an assasination attempt. Am I right on this? Help me out here.
The Pope did finally make it to S.F. in 1987 when he drew SRO crowds of around 86,000 to Candlestick Park.. and that year the Giants made it to the NLCS! Dog be praised.
"Sanfranciscorocksthankyouandgoodnightyoucrazymuthafuckers!!"
Take me down to Vatican City where the grass is green and the boys are pretty.
"On and on, south of Heaven....." - Slayer
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ADDENDUM:
Uhh... Okay...... Satan laughing holds his nose.. Oh Lord, yeah.
Vatican: John Paul II Was Not Embalmed
By MARTA FALCONI, Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
(04-05) 10:26 PDT VATICAN CITY, (AP) --
Departing from tradition, Pope John Paul II was not embalmed, only "prepared" for viewing by hundreds of thousands of mourners, the Vatican said Tuesday.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls did not elaborate on the procedure, but an embalmer in Rome said it appeared John Paul's remains were only touched up with cosmetics.
Massimo Signoracci, whose family embalmed three other popes, said he could not be certain what had been done without examining the body.
Signoracci said even a light embalming is necessary for a body that is exposed for several days.
John Paul died on Saturday, and his remains were put on public view late Monday on an open platform in St. Peter's Basilica. He will be buried Friday.
Historically, organs were removed to make embalming more durable. Relics of 22 popes — from Sixtus V, who died in 1590, to Leo XIII, who died in 1903 — are kept in Rome's St. Anastasio and Vincent Church, near the Trevi fountain.
Pope Pius X, who reigned from 1903 to 1914, abolished the custom of removing organs.
Embalming usually consists of draining the blood and other bodily fluids and intravenously injecting formaldehyde and other preserving liquids.
Signoracci said his family had embalmed the remains of John XXIII in 1963, and of Paul VI and John Paul I, who both died in 1978.
Paul VI was only lightly embalmed before his body was placed before the public during Rome's hot summer. But after two days the skin and fingernails began losing their color.
John XXIII's body, by contrast, was in excellent condition when it was exhumed from the cramped grotto under the basilica in 2001 — 38 years after his death — and moved to the main floor following his beatification.
John Paul II, who expressed a will to be buried underground, will be placed in John XXIII's vacant tomb.
