Every person of faith lost an ally with the passing of Pope John Paul II this weekend.
Even non-Catholic people of faith should offer a prayer of gratitude for the faithful witness and service of Pope John Paul II, who died Saturday after more than a quarter century of
spiritual and moral leadership in a world that has desperately needed both.
A child of Poland, the 84-year-old pontiff brought a fresh perspective as the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. More than that, he blended a strong commitment to traditional church teachings with a zeal for political and economic
justice that offended almost every person and institution at one point or another. And yet his commitment to serve the ordinary and forgotten people of this world made him a most unforgettable and beloved leader who brought integrity to any
political or theological discussion through the
consistency of his actions.
