Pope 'looked dead' before dying

2005-04-12 09:19

Wellington - An evangelist church pastor in New Zealand has apologised for making flippant remarks about Pope John Paul II to parishioners during his sermon on the day he died, the Nelson Mail newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Pastor Brent Liebezeit, of the Annesbrook Church, in the South Island city of Nelson, said: "He looked pretty much dead when he was speaking for years, really.

"Why do they keep them going like that, they have a windup thing behind them or something?"

Liebezeit told the paper he had apologised last weekend to congregation members who felt his "flippant" comments were disrespectful.

Of the late Pope, he said: "He was a good man and he did some good things." - dpa

- SAPA