2008 Woodie Awards
A great man, a great leader
Pope John Paul II spread the moralism of the Catholic doctrine and brought a message of hope to those he visited
Michael Hilal
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Opinion
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Even with the stigmatizing scandals involving the Catholic Church over the past few years and the criticism it receives for conservative views, the passing of Pope John Paul II will mark the death of one of the greatest political and spiritual leaders of our time.
Imagine devoting your entire life to your religious beliefs, and then surpassing that: taking that word, your beliefs and spreading them throughout the world. This would describe just a small portion of what John Paul dedicated his life to.
Pope John Paul II's papacy has often been criticized. His conservative positions on Roman Catholic doctrinal matters on abortion, contraception, euthanasia, divorce, homosexuality, and priestly celibacy have provoked resentment, including among many devout Catholics who admire him personally, but not his views.
But it's undeniable that the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first Polish pope ever, had a profound impact on the lives of people everywhere.
John Paul not only has traveled to over 120 countries - an unprecedented papal record - he took with him a message of hope and togetherness, in particular among people of different religious faiths.
He is the first pope to enter a synagogue and a mosque, and prayed in Canterbury Cathedral in an attempted reconciliation with the Anglican Church. He has apologized for the Crusades, the Inquisition, forced conversions, and for the church's persecution of Galileo.
John Paul II had an intense need to spread the moralism of the Catholic doctrine, which did not fit neatly within customary labels of "conservative" and "liberal." He was bothered by the wealth and waste he saw in consumer society, especially in Eastern Europe, where he helped remake the economic order.
He spoke out against economic evolution that harmed the poor, appealed for pardons for prisoners and opposed "savage capitalism.'' He took on the world's superpower by criticizing the war in Iraq.
Imagine devoting your entire life to your religious beliefs, and then surpassing that: taking that word, your beliefs and spreading them throughout the world. This would describe just a small portion of what John Paul dedicated his life to.
Pope John Paul II's papacy has often been criticized. His conservative positions on Roman Catholic doctrinal matters on abortion, contraception, euthanasia, divorce, homosexuality, and priestly celibacy have provoked resentment, including among many devout Catholics who admire him personally, but not his views.
But it's undeniable that the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first Polish pope ever, had a profound impact on the lives of people everywhere.
John Paul not only has traveled to over 120 countries - an unprecedented papal record - he took with him a message of hope and togetherness, in particular among people of different religious faiths.
He is the first pope to enter a synagogue and a mosque, and prayed in Canterbury Cathedral in an attempted reconciliation with the Anglican Church. He has apologized for the Crusades, the Inquisition, forced conversions, and for the church's persecution of Galileo.
John Paul II had an intense need to spread the moralism of the Catholic doctrine, which did not fit neatly within customary labels of "conservative" and "liberal." He was bothered by the wealth and waste he saw in consumer society, especially in Eastern Europe, where he helped remake the economic order.
He spoke out against economic evolution that harmed the poor, appealed for pardons for prisoners and opposed "savage capitalism.'' He took on the world's superpower by criticizing the war in Iraq.