Reflections on Pope John Paul II

Yesterday my father sent me the following article in the April 7, 2005 JOEL NEWS INTERNATIONAL e-mail. I'll write more later after I watch the funeral, which will be broadcast live on TF1 and FR2, two of the main French TV channels.

4. RESOURCE: Reflections on Karol Wojtyla

"We don't have to agree with all Karol Wojtyla stood for to acknowledge that he was one of history's giants," writes YWAM Europe's director Jeff Fountain in his tribute to John Paul II, who passed away last weekend. "He was the first pope to visit a synagogue, the first to visit Auschwitz, the first to give diplomatic recognition to Israel, the first to celebrate mass with an Orthodox leader, the first to apologise for treatment of dissenters like John Hus and Martin Luther, the first to confess the sins of the Roman Catholic Church."

Fountain also calls to pray for the new pope. "Catholics the world over will be praying for the election of the new pope, aware that the outcome could carry great consequences. Surely, in the light of John Paul II's impact on world affairs, that is a matter of prayer for all believers."

LINK: http://www.ywameurope.org/news/word/readWord.asp?word=163

Agnieszka Tennant, associate editor of Christianity Today, also wrote a tribute to Karol Wojtyla, in which she relates how the pope turned her into an Evangelical. "I thank God for his ecumenism, which gave me permission to explore the religion of Billy Graham - whom the pope, while he was still a cardinal, invited to preach in his pulpit in Krakow, against the annoyance of the Polish Catholic establishment, in a sign of things to come."

LINK: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/114/12.0.html

Thomas Oden, Christianity Today's executive editor, remembers John Paul II as one who brought greater unity between Catholics and Evangelicals.

LINK: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/114/24.0.html

Focus on the Family Chairman Dr. James C. Dobson released the following statement:

"Today's passing of Pope John Paul II is an immeasurable loss – not only to our friends of the Roman Catholic faith, but to the entire world. We found common cause with him and with the 'culture of life' he espoused so eloquently; the legacy he left us is to be cherished.

"While many grieve the profound loss of this remarkable man, we celebrate his life, his ministry and his undeniable impact on the world. During his time as leader of the Catholic Church, he embodied the belief that freedom is a gift from God that should not be infringed by any government; that all life is precious and should be protected; and that dying is part of living and should not be feared nor hastened artificially. As Protestants we differ with the Catholic Church on some key theological and doctrinal issues, yet we respected him and much that he tried to accomplish.

"Pope John Paul was an uncompromising voice on the sanctity of life – in fact, his was one of the greatest contributions of the 20th century to that cause. The 'culture of life' will forever be indebted to the man who championed the value of all human life, even to his last breath."

LINK: http://www.family.org/welcome/press/a0036076.cfm