A few words from the Pope

Cast out into the deep! http://minutiae.stblogs.org/archives/021198.html

Which is what he's doing now. Perhaps the new evangelization, the new springtime he's talked about will be made fruitful through his intercession.

"Be Not Afraid"

"Totus Tuus"

Pope John Paul II has been a great teacher and role model. Let us pray that his voice and heart will continue to speak through each one of us as we commit to carry on his work. "You shall know them by their fruits."

May our Holy Father the Pope be blessed with the light and grace of Jesus Christ as he ascends on the beginning of his eternal life with God the Father, with serenity and humility abode, I pray In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit .

Amen

We will never see another Pope like John Paul II and are blessed to have been in his lifetime

I just hope that the Youth of this world do not abandon the Pope in his time of need. He has done so much for the youth (especially Youth Day which I hope the Vatican will continue) that I hope even after his death, the youth of today will carry on all of his teachings to them reminding them that they are our hope for the future.

"Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence."

-Pope John Paul II

We have truly been blessed.

I'm afraid I have a very different view of his 'legacy.' He was a failure as far as women's and gay rights are concerned, as well as a woman's right to choose. It is the 21st Century after all! And it doesn't look any better down the road; why can't the Church embrace all people?

Joey, if you are disappointed that the Pope has not changed Catholic moral doctrine, please realize that your own expectations and assumptions were just not realistic. It is not the calling of the Pope, nor within his power, to change Catholic doctrine in a way that would contradict what has gone before.

Pope John Paul's teaching on the dignity and rights of women may not conform to your opinions, but it is quite extensive and encouraging, and I hope that you will look into it and find some inspiration in it.

The Church welcomes all people and invites all to follow Christ. Being a disciple includes respecting and loving the weak (thus no abortion, no killing of the sick) and living in chastity.

I don't see how "it is the 21st century" constitutes an argument. Abortion and unchastity are very old sins, and nothing about them has changed to make them less bad.

Please note, folks:

I'm really not looking for objections to Pope John Paul today, and as always, we blog authors reserve the right to remove any of the comments people post.

We have been blessed to have had Pope John Paul II in our lives. May he now rest in the peace and love of our Savoir Jesus Christ.

Peace
"We are hearing a great deal about the Pope dying in peace. And for what reason? Because he has suffered. You will be able to see, and hear, just how badly understood the gospel is amongst evangelicals and others as you listen to the commentary on the Pope. The specifics of the gospel will be buried under the emotionalism of death. The Pope's salvation will be guaranteed not because his faith is fixed solely upon the finished work of Christ (which, in light of the devotion to Mary, belief in the Mass, purgatory, etc., it clearly is not), but because of his suffering, his "goodness," a goodness not determined by reference to God's holiness, of course, but by reference to other men.
I wonder...how many evangelical leaders will honor God rather than men and say what needs to be said? "Unless the Pope believed the gospel, he, like any other person on the planet, died under the wrath of God, outside of the only way of salvation God has provided in Jesus Christ!" And how many will cave in to the fear of the face of men and do what society demands by compromising the gospel, showing a greater love of the acclaim of men rather than the approval of God? Remember, friends:"

Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
13:02:20 - James R. White - Category: Roman Catholicism - Link to this article

Jesus has told him "well done, good and faithful servant" as he is now rejoicing with our heavenly Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

we may weep, but the Heavens rejoice today.

"Woo Hoo, John Paul II, he loves you!"

I did a research paper on the Pope, actually, and so I remember that quote (I think), and though I am not a Catholic or Christian in practice, I have extreme respect and reverence for the man. It's not only the works he has done while he had the seat as Pope, but his own personal life as well. The way he could have fun with his job, the way he could connect with people across the world, young and old alike. Though I doubt I will ever be a Christian, I think that if I had met Karol, we would've had a nice time together. Rest in peace man.

Good Heavens, RW: the Pope emphatically believed and taught, along with the whole Catholic Church, that salvation is a gift of Christ. The role of our Lady, like that of any saint or any believer, comes from her relationship with Christ and her ability to pray to Him for us. The same goes for the value of our works and sufferings: they are only a means of grace because Christ lives in us and performs those works in us.

Sad to say, many people, Catholic and non-Catholic, seem to shy away from this Christian truth and speak as if our actions, prayers, or sufferings had some merit independent of Christ. Nothing could be further from the mind of Pope John Paul II.

Thanks for thinking of us during this time when we are mourn the loss of our Church's chief pastor on earth and accompany him in his passing to eternal life.

The Pope will be greatly missed. He was a true angle of our Lord and savior. Their will never be another like him. Let us now rejoyce his like and carry on the mission he started.

Pope John Paul II was an amazing man. He will truly be missed by the world. Although this changes my whole insight on prayer. If the Pope was the most holiest, why did God make him suffer for so long. I know that everyone has to carry their cross, but why did Pope John Paul II have to carry his for so long? And with billions of people all over the world praying for him, why did God wait until now to take him when he suffered for so long?

the gates of heaven are opened to you.i will truly miss your vitality and courage.thank you for coming in to my life.

I have not have ever meet him. But feel i know him. Just though his will and prayers for all of us . May he never be forgoten in our prayers

Pope John Paul II was an amazing man and will be remembered forever. I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually is declared a saint.
*** Thank you Lord for sharing your servant with us.... AMEN ***

"I FORGIVE!"

He actually went to prison to personally forgive the man who shot him! To bring the assassin God's message of love and forgiveness. How wonderful is that!!!

We need all remember..."forgiveness" is not just in the Lord's Prayer. "Forgiveness" are right there with Jesus' last words on the cross!

Never in my short life have i ever seen a man so devoted to his religion... Pope John paul was not only a strong and intellegent religious figure, but he was also a man with a very kind nature. His words inspired us all to live in the name of god, and he will surley be missed

Everybody suffers, Amy, including good people and holy people, and our Lord Jesus came through the human way of suffering.

While we usually pray (and take action) to be spared from suffering, we can experience it while it's here as a point of unity with Jesus' own suffering and dying on the Cross. We even believe that Jesus joins our suffering to His and makes it part of His mission for the salvation of the world.

i'm not religious, but the pope was a great man of peace, and will be missed

He has done a wonderful job and is a very good man. God speed to him as our leader in the Catholic Church!

My Prayers are with John Paul this day.
God Bless Him.

...and so it ends. A great man has left this earth today...but he left us with his example of leading a good life. Rest in peace, John Paul.

he was a father figure to us all...it did not matter who what or where we lived...let us remember him as he was a great religious an spirital but human man whos love was far more great then any one i have ever seen he truly was a peoples pope...he may be gone from this earth but now he sits with GOD an watches us all with that smile i shall never forget...

let us all be grateful for the gift of his life and rejoice in his return to the Lord's waiting arms

This pope really had a heart for people. He tried to help in any way he could. He did not believe in this Iraq war or killing children in or out of the womb or capital punishment. He was for life..all the way.. no matter whose life it was.

The holy father has passed..However his legacy shall always be with us all. Vivat Jesus

All human life is sacred -- a precious gift from God. And so we will stand up every time that human life is threatened, when the sacredness of life before birth is attacked, we will stand up and proclaim that no one has the authority to destroy unborn life."

http://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/krol.htm

My wife and I were on our honeymoon in November and we were fortunate enough to receive the papal blessing for "sposi novelli". The Holy Father was so dramatically changed from the last time I saw him in person at the '93 world youth day. He looked so frail; his body as bent and his speech slurred, like a man dying. But then I saw his eyes, and they were the sames eyes he always had: bright, alive, piercing. They seemed to cry out "Be Not Afraid!!!!" Requiescat in pace.

Though I am not Catholic, I feel in my heart Pope John Paul II has brought Christ closer to my heart. I know he will be welcomed in Heaven as he was here on earth, with open arms and profound love. My heart aches with his loss, but as one of those who has "found him" I feel truly fortunate to have been Blessed with his presence in my lifetime. My prayers to all those who mourn his loss and my Thanks to God for letting us, the world, have this wonderful man touch our lives. God Bless and keep you all.
Tami Sledge

I'm not Catholic, but I'm saddened by The Pope's passing as he was one voice for anyone, for freedom, for those less fortunate of all races and creeds. He was not only the Catholic leader, he was a World Community Leader. His voice, his heart will remain with me always.

What more to say than WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. RIP with the Lord Carol.

Now that Pope John Paul II, is not with us I would like to add by saying may he rest in peace. He is with God now waching over us and letting us know that he will always be in our hearts and prayers and we will always be in his heart. we will remember him as a great leader to all of us and a great man. God bless him and we will miss him always and forever.

Being a Polish American Catholic, I have been so proud to have this wonderful man represent the church for the last 26 years. He was a beutiful man inside and out. He ended Communism and he truly loved ALL people, regardless of their personal religious beliefs, ethnicity or affiliation. He is home with God now. We will ALL miss him.

"Totus Tuus" meaning "I am totally yours."

May he Rest In Peace with our LORD OUR FATHER. He was loved by all and devoted himself 100% to what he believed in. He was the greatest catholic leader and we will all miss him. God Bless Him. May there be peace on earth.

It is a sad day for everyone. If we do not realize what has REALLY taken place this past week with regard to life and death and what GOD IS, we will suffer. We have let man decide when and how to take a life, GOD decided to bring Pope John Paul II home at this exact moment in time for a message. Will we finally see the blessings HE has for all of us?
The angels are singing! Let them comfort you.

Having been raised Catholic, I know how important position of the Pope is. I no longer follow the Catholic faith, though I am still a Christian. However, while I may not have agreed with the position of the Pope and the Catholic church ( and probably never will)on many issues , that does not make me any less aware of how truly loving, caring, compassionate, worthy, humble, and truly striving to be Christ-like this man has been. The world has lost a glorious soul, a wonderful man. I am grateful to God that he no longer suffers, and has gone to his home at last. Bless you all, Jenna

[This rude comment by an anonymous coward has been removed. The author can go set up his own blog.]

[And this one too.]

Yes the Catholic religion has had many faults, with all of the recent sexual incidents, but the pope was a good man. I am so sorry he is gone.

To my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ, my thoughts and prayers are with you on this sad day. Pope John Paul II wasn't just the Catholics' Pope; I believe he served as a leader for all of us who share the Christian faith. He was a wonderful leader who will be missed.

Your Methodist sister in Christ,
Paula

The pope may have been a good person, but the religion stands for nothing more than sin itself. The Catholic history is horrible. The stuff they did to people is nightmarish. But I am sorry for the Pope, he seemed to want peace for all.

Why is it such a big deal that The Pope has died? Did you know him personally? Are you really gonna miss him? I think your answers are NO. He is a saint, and so are you. He was not a magical person or someone better than you or me. The only one who can be called great is Jesus. He is the one you can have a personal relationship with and he is one you can cry over for his work on the cross.
The Pope has been quoted with wonderful words. If he is such an amazing person, then why do his followers not follow his words?
"Be not afraid.", "Open wide the doors to Christ.", "All human life is created in the image and likeness of God.", and last but not least "Follow Christ."
1.Each quote is biblical - read the Bible.
2.The Pope led a selfless, loving, serving life - think not of yourself then, but serve others and love everyone.
3. Most importantly - FOLLOW CHRIST!!!!! If you think so highly of the pope, then do what he says!

Who will stand for goodness now?

Marty...I'm sorry for your disbelief. Those of us who feel the loss of a good man will also feel for those who feel nothing.

We will certainly never see the likes of His Holiness again in our lifetime. He brought the light of Christ to us all. Pope John Paul II has gone to his home in heaven. Lets pray for the repose of his soul,and ask for his prayers as well. Totus Tuus !