By The Editors
Twenty-seven years ago a Polish Cardinal walked into the Vatican to commence what would become one of the most progressive and globally involved papacies in the history of the Catholic Church.
Pope John Paul II accomplished more in his 26 years as pope than any other Pope in recent history and led what was hailed as the strongest Church since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
In 1978, following radical changes of the Vatican II delegation, John Paul II was elected, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.
His legacy was unique. He visited communist countries, he apologized for the Church’s passivity towards the Jews during the Holocaust, he even rescinded the Church’s condemnation of Galileo’s position that the earth is not the center of the universe.
Aside from being a loyal man of faith, Pope John Paul II was educated, as well as cultured. Having been fluent in eight languages, the pontiff, who had two master’s and two doctorate degrees, traveled to almost 200 countries during his papacy. He was the first pope ever to visit a synagogue. He approached the world with a strong spirit for pluralism by meeting with religious leaders from other faiths.
Although he stood true to the Catholic principles that opposed abortion and birth control, he strongly supported President Bush’s efforts to fight AIDS in Africa.
He also encouraged the United States and Europe to rebuild and strengthen their positive relationship, which he saw as a crucial alliance that could promote global stability and peace.
He led what he referred to as a “culture of life,” in that he was against death penalty, euthanasia and unjust wars. He was an advocate of every aspect of human life and had tremendous faith in youth, which led to the establishment of World Youth Day.
Immediately after he was named pope, he traveled to Poland, toured his home country and publicly condemned communism.
During his papacy, he canonized 469 saints and named 122 of the world’s 127 cardinals.
The pope epitomized what a Catholic and a positive leader should be. In 1981 the pope survived an assassination attempt when he was shot twice. Though the Muslim shooter, Mehmet Ali Agca, is still in jail, the pope made it a point to visit him and offer forgiveness.
Pope John Paul II started an extraordinary legacy of progressive thinking, tolerance and peace.
On April 18 the Church’s cardinals will vote to appoint a new pope. They will most likely seek a new leader that has the courage, values and influence Pope John Paul II did, and they most certainly should.
For a man who was hit by a car, a truck, survived two assassination attempts and lived with Parkinson’s Disease, he understood what it meant to suffer.
Pope John Paul II will be remembered not only as the third-longest serving pontiff in history, but also as one of the most influential men of the 21st century that was able to balance faith with an unparalleled commitment to progress.