John Paul the 2nd

I was at work today and a Catholic co-worker left a card of John Paul the second on his desk. It was brand new with his birthdate, the date he became a priest, the day he became a cardinal, the Pope and the day he died. They passed the card between themselves in rememberance today. The same co-workers who are catholic (maybe 25 % of them) have talked about him everyday since the day it was announced he was seriously ill. On the televsion set I heard catholics yelling in spanish "instant sainthood! instant sainthood! " (the tv translated it for the viewers). He seems to have had a profound impact on the Catholics of today. For the catholics and others on here...what was he to you? What made this man the hero he comes across to be and what will you remember about his time on earth?

robtex said:

I was at work today and a Catholic co-worker left a card of John Paul the second on his desk. It was brand new with his birthdate, the date he became a priest, the day he became a cardinal, the Pope and the day he died. They passed the card between themselves in rememberance today. The same co-workers who are catholic (maybe 25 % of them) have talked about him everyday since the day it was announced he was seriously ill. On the televsion set I heard catholics yelling in spanish "instant sainthood! instant sainthood! " (the tv translated it for the viewers). He seems to have had a profound impact on the Catholics of today. For the catholics and others on here...what was he to you? What made this man the hero he comes across to be and what will you remember about his time on earth?

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I think he was a very genuine man, who did the best that he could to bring peoples of the world togeather, whilst maintaining his 'strict code' of Catholicism - that was something he was not prepared to compromise.He was gifted, intelligent and had a great sense of humour. Perhaps more important - he didn't let his position 'go to his head'; he could laugh at himself.

This was the only pope that I grew up with (obviously) so he is the only one that I really knew, even though I had done research on others. John Paul II was a very gifted leader and I really loved him for loving the youth, the church of tomorrow. 2004's ICYC (Idaho Catholic Youth Convention) we actually had a special blessing for us from him. He was a great man that loved the youth, which means a lot to me.

The reading of his book, "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," was one of the seminal events in my life, and his unwavering moral conviction served as a guide for me in my development. He is personally responsible for bringing me and many others like me closer to the Church. Add to that the fact that he came from nothing and helped bring the downfall of the Soviet Empire, and you've got a pretty amazing life.

robtex said:

...On the televsion set I heard catholics yelling in spanish "instant sainthood! instant sainthood! " (the tv translated it for the viewers)...

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Santo subito! IIRC.

The one thing that stands out in my mind is his efforts at reconciliation with other faiths. Forgive me for generalizing, but in the past, IMHO, many Catholic church leaders looked at non-Catholics as those who needed to be converted. It seemed to me that Pope John Paul II's message was more in line with Jesus's teaching: share the good news with those who are interested, but do not try to convert the unwilling.

This is just my observation, I don't have a link handy to back it up, so find that grain of salt now, and enjoy.

A man who did his best to heal very old and deep wounds...:162: