Pope John Paul II

I'm not a Catholic, but it is easy to recognize that Pope John Paul II is a great man. The first non-Italian selected as Pope in over 400 years. He broke the traditions that kept the Pope in Rome and is the most traveled Pope in history. His gospel and quiet strength help Poland to throw off the shackles of communism.

He is brilliant and outspoken, well written and thoughtful. For most of my life he has been the conscience of the whole Christian world. As I write this, he is clinging to life. When he passes, the world will be worse off for his loss.