What our other readers are saying:
A spark
Setting a spark that brought down the Soviet Empire.
Neil Behan, Laurel, Maryland, USA
Protected the weakest
Pope John Paul's legacy is that he showed us that life is God-given and only God can take it away. He showed us that we are all equally important to God and that the weakest, sickest and most handicapped should be at the heart of the community, loved by Him and us and not thrust aside by the strongest, healthiest, most intelligent, powerful, richest and famous. He taught us that everyone, no matter how "little" has a gift to bring. He has his detractors, just like Jesus had, but John Paul II showed us how to live the beatitudes. I am grateful to him for anointing my severely handicapped son in 1979 at Knock Shrine, Ireland.
Shelagh McDonough, London, England
Teachings on sexual morality
The most important aspects of Pope John Paul II's legacy are his teachings on sexual morality. His "Theology of the Body" has already started to change the world and is a "theological time bomb" as George Weigel calls it. He shows that the Catholic teachings on sexual morality are not impositions or restraints on our freedom, but rather are concerned directly with protecting the dignity and worth of each person and in ensuring our freedom. When presented with the Catholic view of the total human person, we will no longer want to have premarital sex, use contraception, indulge in lust in marriage, or engage in any other sexual practice that does not correlate with our dignity. These activities will seem degrading and repulsive to us. We will see that the Catholic Church in her teaching of the total human person (not always in practice) is not anti-woman in any way, but rather glorifies and uplifts her dignity and purpose in this world.
David Simon, Fowler, Mich., USA
Remarkable contritubion
Pope John Paul II made a remarkable [contribution] to Tanzanian Christians on his visit in 1990. He'll be remembered for his moral, economic and social contributions to Tanzanians and its neighboring countries regardless of their [religious] beliefs.
S.A. Likondangoma, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Remembered for his apology
[Pope John Paul II will be best remembered for] his apology for Catholic/Christian historical mistakes and sins.
James Soares, El Paso, Texas, USA
Internationalism and pacifism
His great contributions were internationalism and pacifism. He will be fondly remembered by millions for his opposition to the invasion of Iraq.
Rut Einarsdotter, Copenhagen, Denmark
...any legacy of social justice was crippled by this Pope, especially in Latin America...
Wm. Mcintyre, Napa, Calif., USA
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I praise him for never compromising or giving in to social pressures
I believe history and the Church both will always remember him as the single greatest world leader of our times. He taught us that some truths are universal and forever, especially moral truths. Social trends, desires, attitudes, and pressures shift and sway constantly, but he taught us (if we will only learn) that it is mankind who must learn that some truths are forever and there are some absolute goods and evils that never change, no what matter the current trends in society are.
I rejoice and praise him for never compromising or giving in to social pressures. He would not have been a great moral leader if he had compromised. Of course that left some feeling offended or disappointed, but the Pope could not change that. He upheld those truths that are forever, and even if the world did not recognize the value of that, it is one of his greatest legacies.
Frances Schweitzer, Denver, Colo., USA
One of the greatest popes of any century
He is one of the greatest popes of any century. He skillfully led the church, established close contacts with other religions, and had the lead role in the implosion of the Soviet Bloc. This last accomplishment may have prevented nuclear holocaust. He was the greatest and most successful advocate of human rights in the past century. He gave a polite and patient ear to Catholic dissenters, much more than they deserved. His was the authentic voice of Christ, who as all may recall, had his own vocal detractors.
Ralph Franceschini, Los Angeles, Calif., USA
Any legacy of social justice was crippled by this Pope
Pope John Paul II is rightfully praised for an expansion of the church in the third world, a genuine attempt at reconciliation with all faiths, and most notably for his opposition to Communism. These are only a few of the reasons to extol this Pope.
It is more than apparent to many in the world that any legacy of social justice was crippled by this Pope especially in Latin America where the multitude cries out for relief from the oppression of post-colonialism and the acquiescence, by the church, to subjugation of a majority of the population to a ruling class. The support for an entertaining ministry, competitive with the evangelical Protestants gaining broader support in these countries appears to be his greatest legacy. The silencing of activist priests and the preference for Roman showmanship to attract or retain the faithful will be one of his shallowest legacies.
Wm. Mcintyre, Napa, Calif., USA
He opened his heart to the world
He opened his heart to the world. He prayed at the Wailing Wall, entered a Mosque, asked forgiveness of the Jews. He traveled to the poor in many countries. He condemned all war, including the last stab at Iraq. He was unafraid and inspired us all to be unafraid. He was respected by all religions and all peoples for his integrity and holiness.
Gracia Francioli Bittner, Batavia, Ill., USA
I had hoped he would draw Catholics and Protestants closer together
Despite taking on the name of the two predecessors who were responsible for the fresh winds of Vatican II, John Paul II moved in the opposite direction. As a Protestant, I had high hopes for his papacy. I hoped that he would draw protestants and Catholics closer together. Instead he moved the church in the opposite direction.
Harwood Schaffer, Knoxville, Tenn., USA
...Catholic teachings on sexual morality are not impositions or restraints on our freedom, but rather are concerned directly with protecting the dignity and worth of each person and in ensuring our freedom.
David Simon, Fowler, Mich., USA
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He showed us how to live in these modern times
Although Catholic laws are not to be changed, Pope John Paul ll found a way to show us the way it just has to be, period. He also showed us how to live within those laws in these modern times.
Sherrie Baiza, Nashville, Tenn., USA
A 'man for all seasons'
His talent for rhetoric and for
reaching out to the poor, as well as the elite in social circles made him "a man for all seasons". He was a briliant man, yet humble, an intellectual who had the "common touch". He was strong in his moral decisions about abortion, homosexuality, marriage, and birth control. While I didn't agree with all he stood for, I loved John Paul II.
Mercedes Jiron Dunphy, Arvada, Colo., USA
He stood steadfast for doctrines in place for centuries
He showed me how to live, and how to die. Many liberals have shown disdain for the Pope because he did not champion homosexuality, free sex, abortion, and other social "new age" concerns. Let us Catholics not forget, that we do not change the church. He stood steadfast for the doctrines in place for centuries. He stood for family morals, sanctity of life, peace, and the poor. These doctrines were given to us by Jesus himself. Pope John Paul II was enforcing them. If he can hear me, I say, "Thank you".
Ken Villone, Conesus, N.Y., USA
He sought to convert people to the idea of peaceful coexistence
Pope John Paul II was a striking and, for some of us, a startling departure from the popes of the past. He truly made himself a man of the world, not just of Vatican City.
He sought not to convert the world to Catholicism but to convert people to the idea of respect for human dignity and for peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths, races and nationalities.
Jeff Francis, Cambridge, Mass., USA
He lived and preached compassion and understanding for all
Pope John Paul II lived and preached understanding and compassion for others. Even if we disagree, we are all God's children and should have love for all.
Elizabeth Lewis, Montgomery, Ala., USA
Witness to the sanctity of all human life
The most important aspects of Pope John Paul II's legacy are his total faithfulness to the fullness of Catholic Christian faith, his witness to the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death, and his clear and comprehensive teaching of the meaning of life in the "Theology of the Body."
Sr. Seraphina Marie, Covington, Ky., USA
'Intensely anti-woman'
This pope has been intensely anti-woman, if not explicitly, then in the effects of his policies. Likewise, his policies were anti-child in refusing to control the sex abuses and cover-ups in the American church. He talked about valuing life, but his actions were negative and authoritarian. His legacy will be a divided church without the flexibility to respond to environmental and social crises ahead. And he was just one head of just one of the world's religious groups; he did not deserve the one-sided saturation coverage the media has given him.
L. Larson, Princeton, N.J., USA
Whatever your religion or views on religion, this simple man from Poland brought light and love to the last quarter of the 20th century.
Martin Erasmuson, Nelson, New Zealand
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Lack of leadership during priest abuse scandals
Pope John Paul II should be best remembered for his total lack of effective leadership during the priest abuse scandals. Rather than immediately ridding the priesthood of those who harmed the children, and the bishops who enabled them, he turned his back on the entire situation.
Don Howlett, Gladstone, Mich., USA
'My world is better for having Pope John Paul II in it'
Whatever your religion or views on religion, this simple man from Poland brought light and love to the last quarter of the 20th century. My world is better for having had Pope John Paul II in it.
Martin Erasmuson, Nelson, New Zealand
A '20th century Jesus'
He was as close to the way Christ was chronicled in the new testament of the Bible, as any man ever born. He was fearless [of] totalitarian governments and compassionate to persons who needed the most help. He truly was a 20th century Jesus.
Mike Hickey, Sayville, N.Y., USA
Pope John Paul II should be best remembered for his total lack of effective leadership during the priest abuse scandals.
Don Howlett, Gladstone, Mich., USA
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'He showed me how to live'
I feel that he tried to live his life as it unfolded, reacting with a positive Christian spirit. I truly love the man and hope to think of him when I need strength. He found solutions to the problems he saw. He showed me how to live.
Larry Parkhurst, Garfield, Arkansas, USA
Pope made the 'ultimate comment' on the Iraq war
In my opinion Pope John Paul II made the ultimate comment on the Iraq war - that the West "had used the law of force instead of the force of law."
R. Anderson, London, United Kingdom
Lack of sensibility to some of the world's poorest
I am currently in South Africa studying post-conflict civil society and was surprised by the amount of attention the passing of the Pope inspired. It's both a testament to his travels and his stature on the world stage. As a Mexican Catholic raised in the US, I was also disheartened by the lack of analysis and attention drawn to some of the pope's more controversial and catastrophic stances, and particularly their effects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In public debate the Monitor has done the most thorough job thus far.
"In Latin America, the pope silenced and side-lined some priests in the 1980s who advocated 'liberation theology,' which called on the church to be more politically active on behalf of the poor. Some considered liberation theologians to be too closely aligned to Marxist teachings."
During this period he was often threatening and, at the least, chastising [to] some of the most memorable and inspiring Catholics, such as the assassinated Monsignor Oscar Romero of El Salvador and Bishop Samuel Ruiz of Mexico. These priests were true advocates for change for the most downtrodden members of our society, giving the masses the space to engage the gospel message of justice.
Aside from these political divisions, the pope's refusal to support the use of condoms and other birth control methods has been detrimental in poor communities where families are large and money is scarce. Often poor women do not have the right to curb these frightening realities and threats to their own lives as they give birth in unsafe conditions.
This to me is John Paul II's strongest legacy, the way he divided the Catholic Church and was complicit in numerous acts of human rights abuses supported by more conservative elements of the Catholic Church in Latin America. He also displayed a lack of sensitivity to the lives of the some of the poorest people in the world.
Filiberto Nolasco Gomez, Montebello, Calif., USA
His somewhat contradictory attachment to tradition being perhaps his only flaw, it was also his greatest strength....
Philip Stracke, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
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'Christian' in the best sense of the word
As a Jew, I admired him as a man who was "Christian" in the best sense of the word, even though I disagreed with much of his worldview.
I have been thinking often about a Jewish midrash (teaching story) that it was because the priest Karol Wojtyla saved Jews during the Holocaust that God saw fit to make him pope.
Joseph Sohar, Boston, Mass., USA
Attachment to tradition was his 'greatest strength'
As a man, his life fully exemplified a long, selfless, difficult quest to learn the power of moral certitude, but in his duties as Pope, he transformed a formerly aloof, remote, and atrophied noble papacy into an active, outspoken, and involved embassy of the power of his Father's true compassion for all mankind.
He bravely showed the world that those who had sought to create an imposing society that barred the supreme authority and respect of a basic moral belief in divine love and compassion, were erecting an empire on a foundation of sand. To that end, he also opened the hearts of his flock to the hearts of those who's beliefs were unlike his.
His somewhat contradictory attachment to tradition being perhaps his only flaw, it was also his greatest strength, for defining wrong is never to be confused with condemnation when compassion and forgiveness is its goal.
Hopefully his defiance of the politics of fear stand as an example that will sustain the global family of mankind with our need to share together in the love of God forever.
Philip Stracke, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
