Hans Grapje was raised in a Catholic school in The
Hague and as a young man aspired to become a priest.
However, he was drafted into the Army during WWII
and spent two years co-piloting B17s until his
aircraft was shot down in 1943, resulting in the
loss of his left arm. Captain Grapje spent the rest
of the war as a military chaplain, giving spiritual
aid to soldiers, both Allied and enemy. After the
war, he became a priest, serving as a missionary in
Africa, piloting his own plane (in spite of his handicap) to villages
across the continent.

In 1997, Father Grapje (now an Archbishop) was
serving in Zimbabwe when an explosion in a silver
mine caused a massive cave-in trapping scores of
miners deep in the earth. Archbishop Grapje went
down into the mine to administer comfort and last
rites to those too severely injured to move. While
underground another shaft collapsed and he was
buried for three days, suffering multiple injuries,
including the loss of his right eye. Some time after
being rescued, he developed a severe (but rare) condition known as
purpura. This condition is the
result of extensive underground time and exposure to
the high silver content in the mine's air. It is
characterized by purplish skin blotches and is found
in many life-long silver miners. For his heroism and
selfless service to others, the church elevated him
to Cardinal.

With the passing of Pope John Paul II, he joined the
other Cardinals in Rome for the funeral and the
conclave to select a new Pope from their ranks.
Although Cardinal Grapje devoted his life to the
service of God as a scholar, mentor and holy man;
church leaders agree he will never ascend to the
Papacy.
..
..
..

After all, no one wants a one-eyed, one-armed,
flying purple Papal leader.


[For you youngsters out there, your assignment is to google for "flying
purple people eater" to make this somewhat understandable. Apologies to
Sheb Wooley.]