Karol Wojtyla is one of my heroes. He is the first non-Italian pope since 1523.
He spent nine days in Poland in 1979 and told the people, “You are men. You have dignity. Don’t crawl on your bellies.” He was right. They refused to.
He went to Cuba in 1998. Castro, the only Communist leader who seemed to understand Karol’s power, wore a business suit in his presence and treated him with tremendous deference.
I agree with Hugh Hewitt’s assessment:
With Reagan and Solzhenitsyn, John Paul II represents the three forces of opposition to communism that shattered the evil empire, the Soviet Union –the American-led West, the Eastern European resistance, and the Russian dissident movement. They also represented the three spheres of opposition: political, artistic and spiritual. Each man came into the field of his greatness later in life, and each has endured hard circumstances in their later years. I hope Solzhenitisyn is able to and inclined to write about his colleagues in the struggle that triumphed.
“This world,” he says, “is not capable of making man happy.” A challenge to capitalists.
I remember John XXIII, and Paul VI. “Good Pope John” was as well-known as John Paul II, and considered an amiable man. Paul did not elicit quite the same generosity, perhaps because he followed a man so loved. John Paul followed, and survived only 33 days in the Papacy. Karol Wojtyla took the name John Paul II in his honor, and became as loved as John XXIII.
As I mentioned, he was also feared. Despots dreaded his visits. And John Paul II visited–often. He made more foreign trips than all previous popes combined: 170 visits to over 115 countries. He knelt in prayer next to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and visited Buddhist temples. He visited Auschwitz and the synagogue in the Jewish District of Krakow, two places close to him from his younger days.
Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa. He drew crowds of Catholics, but also people of all religions. And athiests. He had charisma, and he had faith. Those two characteristics allowed him to cross all boundaries.
His strength, long failing, was impressive. He will be a difficult Pope to follow.
God Bless Karol Wojtyla.
****UPDATE****
In an Istanbul prison cell, Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish extremist who tried to assassinate the Pope in 1981, was praying for his “brother”, according to his lawyer. The two men have long since made their peace.
****UPDATE II****
A Great Man has introduced himself to God.
Mike, that’s a good post. I think the only groups of people who don’t love the Pope are American feminists, thugs, and tyrants.
Certainly the Holy Spirit is in that good man.
Comment by Paulie at The Commons — April 2, 2005 @ 6:43 am
I just learned the Pope has died,,,,we are grieving the loss.
Comment by John — April 2, 2005 @ 3:26 pm
I know it’s been said probably a million times the last few greats but he will be remembered as one of the great figures of the 20th century.
Fitting tribute, Mike.
Comment by Rob A. — April 2, 2005 @ 7:01 pm
As a Christian non-Catholic, raised with many Catholics, I can appreciate what a pope means to them. As a student of history, and a lover of positive change, I can truly call this man Holy Father with reverence and adoration for what he has done for the world. An entire band of Angels was awaiting his arrival with joyous choirs singing. He will be sorely missed on this side of The Veil.
Comment by DagneyT — April 2, 2005 @ 11:21 pm
Notice how Bush hasn’t ordered our flags to fly at half mast? Strange, isn’t it? Perhaps it’s because Bush had something to do with the Pope’s sudden and mysterious death. I have it on good authority that Bush actually travelled to the Vatican last June under a shroud of secrecy. Was he there to warn the Pope against endorsing same-sex marriage? Or was it the Pope’s stance against Bush’s illegal and immoral War on Terror that awakened the sleeping chimp?
The circumstances surrounding the Pope’s death are as cloudy as Tom Sizemore’s urine. I hope the 9/11 widows call for an investigation before any more innocent pontiffs succomb to the machinations of the Bush junta.
Comment by Liberal Larry — April 4, 2005 @ 4:49 pm
Mike, I am proud to say that I am already praying to JP II to teach me the same patience and forgiveness…especially when faced with the DISGRACEFUL comments of the New York Times today about “his over-poping was bad for the catholic church” and the horrific, indeed hateful comments of Liberal Larry.
We will canonize and beatify him. He will be a guardian angel to us all.
I am proud to be a Roman catholic. JP IIs example is one we all should aspire to emulate. I forgive you Liberal Larry, you know not what you do.
Comment by Jay — April 5, 2005 @ 9:22 am