Pope John Paul II (1920–2005)

           To the more than 1 billion Catholics around the world, the Journey with Jesus expresses our sadness and condolences at the death of John Paul II. How fitting that the lectionary reading for this week includes the powerful words of the Psalmist, "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).

            By many measures John Paul was an extraordinary figure. The first non-Italian pope since 1523, his twenty-six year papacy was the second longest in the history of the Catholic church. His pastoral travels took him to 129 countries (one article gave a figure of 170 countries). True, he was quite conservative and even inflexible on a number of issues. He insisted that divorced Catholics who remarried could not receive communion. Ordination of women to the priesthood and priestly celibacy were not even open to debate. Outspoken, liberal professors and priests were silenced and even excommunicated. Still, John Paul was a dramatically outspoken witness for the Gospel around the globe, and a champion of the poor, and for that we are all grateful. The world is a much better place because of his person and work.

           With fellow Christians around the world, we grieve, but not as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).