PopeWatch

Throughout the day:

"He is still holding on. Clinging, I believe, is the most-used expression for it."

"What's the latest?"

"Nothing...wait! CNN reports that Italian media reports that he died."

"Wow. The Pope died."

"The tryptech is complete. Schiavo, Purdue, the Pope."

"Who would have thought those three would be together?"

"Wait - now Reuters is saying he's not dead. Mistake. Misunderstanding. Something."

"Oh. So he's not dead yet."

"Nope. He feels happy."

"How do you know he's not dancing around in his apartment to the Spice Girls?"

"Oh, dear God. Image. Thanks."

"Any word?"

"They redacted the death announcement. Vatican's saying he's still alive. People in the square. Lot of praying."

"Where are we at with JP2?"

"No one knows, but no one's said he's dead yet."

"Here's the latest - they're saying the Pope is still clinging to life."

Everyone's keeping one eye on the television or Internet news sites. People will go about their day-to-day for a few minutes and then revert to the PopeWatch. Everyone wonders when it'll happen. Some are sighing when I comment on how this will be my first Pope death.

"26 years of JP2. 24 years of V. You do the math."

"24. Jesus Christ."

So many around the world remain fixated on the light in two apartment windows in Rome...