“A declarative and touching MSNBC introduction by Keith Olbermann at 6p.m. set the network’s tone defiantly and left me in tears,” an e-mailer says. Here is the transcript of the opening:
“Once, he was the ultimate outsider…
The second choice…
To whom the Chair of Saint Peter came only after the lingering death of a venerable Pope…
And the sudden passing of another, only 33 days in the Vatican…
Whose election was not just unlikely, but inconceivable.
The last time a non-Italian had become the Vicar of Christ…
Michaelangelo’s ceiling of the Sistine Chapel had been complete for only TWO decades.
Yet for 26 and one half years, longer than all those who preceded him save Pius the 5th and Peter himself…
He became not just the leader of the world’s Catholics…
But its spirit, in a time of near-total transition.
Survivor of an assassin’s bullet…
Tireless traveler…
God’s athlete…
Author and poet…
Politician in papal garments, who helped liberate his native country…
And who parlayed with countries foreign to him and even foreign to his church.
A life, fully led, as Pope of one billion, one hundred million Catholics…
A life, taken in whole, as varied, and as fulfilling, and as full of wonder as could be imagined…
A life, after years of decline, and two months of constant sickness…
That is, appears to finally be coming to an end.
This is MSNBC’s continuing coverage of the illness of Karol Wojtyla…
The illness of Pope John Paul the Second.
Pope: Olbermann’s Poignant Opening
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