NEW YORK - Ailing American evangelist Billy Graham said Tuesday that he looked forward to dying as he prepared for what he announced would be his last mass prayer meeting in the United States.
Suffering from prostate cancer, hydrocephalus and Parkinson`s disease, the 86-year-old preacher, whose political connections have ranged from the late North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung to current US President George W. Bush, will hold a three-day "crusade" in New York City starting Friday.
"This will be the last in America, I`m sure," said Graham who has preached the gospel to more than 200 million people in 180 countries and territories.
He has a standing invitation to hold a mass event in London, and Graham said he was still "praying about that" and considering whether to accept.
"While I leave the future in God`s hands, I know that my days of preaching must soon come to an end," he said.
Hard of hearing, and speaking in a whisper that contrasted sharply with the high-decibel oratory of his peak years, Graham told a press conference that he had no fears about his own mortality.
"I look forward to death with great anticipation," he said. "I`m looking forward to seeing God face to face. That could happen any day."
Asked why he chose New York -- often seen as a symbol of secular America -- for his last crusade, Graham cited the unique ethnic diversity of the city.
"New York City isn`t only a cross-section of the world`s population; it is also a cross-section of the world`s problems," he said.
"I suspect it would be impossible to find a major social problem elsewhere that isn`t also a problem here," he added.
The three-day outdoor revival meeting will be held in Corona Park in Queens.
Graham`s last crusade in the New York area was a 1991 rally in Manhattan`s Central Park that drew more than 250,000 people.
06/21/2005 17:14 GMT