Unless you’re living under a rock somewhere, you have no doubt heard of the Pope’s death by now. What you probably have not heard, however, is that the Vatican announced John Paul II’s death by email:
“The Holy Father, John Paul II, died at 9:37 p.m. (1937GMT) in his private apartment,” the message read. “All procedures foreseen in the Apostolic Constitution `Universi Dominici Gregis’ (`Of the Lord’s Whole Flock’), promulgated by John Paul II on February 22, 1996, have been activated.”
Announcing his death by email is pretty notable considering the number of other traditions and rituals that will still be carried out – like striking the Pope on the head with a silver hammer. And when the cardinals vote on a new Pope, the ballots are burned with a special chemical to make smoke white or black – white signals a new Pope has been chosen.
I read elsewhere today that John Paul II was the first pontiff to utilize modern technology like airplanes and computers. Interesting, but not all that surprising when you consider that these things were first catching on when he became Pope 26 years ago.
Read: CNN