NEWS SIDEBAR: Reactions to the Death of Pope John Paul II

c. 2005 Religion News Service (UNDATED) Following are excerpts of reactions from political and religious leaders to the death of Pope John Paul II: “He did not hesitate before pains and sacrifices in order to bring the message of the Gospel to the entire world and to contribute to the establishment of peace. … There […]

c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Following are excerpts of reactions from political and religious leaders to the death of Pope John Paul II:

“He did not hesitate before pains and sacrifices in order to bring the message of the Gospel to the entire world and to contribute to the establishment of peace. … There are not many such brave men of vision as the departed pope.”


_ Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians

“Pope John Paul II modeled unselfish compassion. He set aside his own physical challenges, disdained the threats of extremist opposition and traveled the world to demonstrate his appreciation for diversity, his interest in interreligious dialogue, and his deep commitment to religion as a source of reconciliation and peace rather than conflict and war.”

_ Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the Interfaith Alliance

“We will miss his voice and his presence in the ongoing quest for peace and human dignity. We honor his memory for his full-hearted embrace of his Jewish brothers and sisters in deed and word alike. His legacy of love and courage has transformed the world.”

_ Rabbi Harry K. Danziger, president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis

“Without a doubt, he will be seen as one of Catholicism’s greatest popes _ personable, charismatic and clear about his vision of the church. Still, he left a legacy of many unresolved issues, including women in the priesthood, celibacy and the call for greater lay involvement in decision making.”

_ Bishop William B. Oden, ecumenical officer for the United Methodist Council of Bishops

“For years now we’ve depended on the pope, and simply awaited his word whenever we faced problems. The whole Polish church now faces an important test of maturity _ our capacity to take responsibility for our own decisions. The pope would have wanted us to be able to think without him.”

_ Krzysztof Kozlowski, editor of the Roman Catholic Tygodnik Powszechny weekly newspaper, the Krakow, Poland, publication that carried the pontiff’s first articles in the late 1940s

“Christians everywhere thank God for the leadership, vitality and warm spiritual personality of John Paul II. He was an encouragement not only to his faithful Catholic flock but also to men and women of goodwill worldwide who saw in him a deep compassion for humanity that came from his commitment to the Gospel of Christ.”

_ Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance

“As a religious leader, Pope John Paul II fought for his principles as vigorously as he practiced them, giving strong, meaningful guidance to his church. We pray that these qualities of leadership and commitment will continue to serve as an example to all.”


_ International Society for Krishna Consciousness

“His place in the history of change in Europe during the last quarter of the 20th century is secure. So, too, is his record during his long pontificate, of advocating the cause of greater European unity, the building of a `common European house’ in which the Christianity of both East and West has to share.”

_ Rev. Keith Clements, general secretary of the Conference of European Churches

“His 26 years as head of the Catholic Church will be remembered for his many accomplishments, but none more significant than the way in which God used his influence to open the Eastern bloc of nations so that the Gospel might be preached in that region. Having ministered in Russia, Latvia, Hungary and other Eastern bloc nations, I am eternally grateful for the many souls that will be in heaven as a result of his influence in paving the way for the Gospel to be preached.”

_ Pastor Benny Hinn, Dallas-based Pentecostal evangelist

“In a war-torn world of religious bigotry and prejudice, he taught us how we didn’t have to all go along, while still getting along. For a man of his age and generation, he demonstrated that it was possible for us, as believers, to go beyond just tolerating diversity, to actually celebrating it.

_ Bishop Carlton D. Pearson, senior pastor, Higher Dimensions Family Church, Tulsa, Okla.

“The death of Pope John Paul II leaves the Christian community with both lament and apprehension _ lament over the loss of the world’s conscience and worry about who will speak with corresponding moral clarity.”

_ Robert Parham, executive director of the Baptist Center for Ethics

“We remember the pope’s frequent calls for the need for peace and reconciliation in various places in the world, including and especially the Middle East. On his historic visit to the Holy Land, this indeed was one of his main messages, one that unfortunately was not heeded well or soon enough.”

_ Rabbi Ron Kronish, director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel

“Although our traditions each are distinctive, we have shared with this great pastoral leader a fundamental commitment to glorify God through embracing the precious gift of new life and reconciliation embodied in our Lord Jesus Christ. … He has been a leading voice for the poor and disenfranchised throughout the world, and a strong advocate for peacemaking and for understanding among cultures and religions.”


_ Rev. A. Roy Medley, general secretary of American Baptist Churches USA

“During his pontificate John Paul II tried to create bridges of friendship and understanding among and with all religions. … Sikhs had also deeply appreciated that it was Pope John Paul II who was the first religious and Western leader to raise concern at the attack and killing of the Sikhs by the Indian army at the Golden Temple in 1984.”

_ Rajwant Singh, national chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education

“We pay tribute to his life and labors. His influence was vast. His pontificate set forth in bold relief traits and issues that will determine the shape of the Roman church and even Christendom over the next numbers of generations.”

_ Rev. William J. Shaw, president, National Baptist Convention, USA

“We would never have gotten the debts of 23 countries completely canceled without him.”

_ Bono, lead singer of the rock group U2, who campaigned for debt relief with the pontiff, quoted by USA Today

“Pope John Paul was a leader of manifest holiness and a faithful and prayerful friend of the Anglican Church.”

_ The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, archbishop of Canterbury

“We neither express grief nor joy over the death of the pope. Some of what he said about peace and harmony was worth considering.”

_ Abdul Latif Hakimi, spokesman for the Taliban in Kabul, Afghanistan

“Pope John Paul II appealed to people to reach the heights of their human potential, to respect one another by acting justly and with charity.”


_ Monsignor William Kerr, director of the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington.

“He not only spoke about bringing freedom to the enslaved in nations all around the word, but he moved heaven and earth to bring about freedom for enslaved people through his actions.”

_ Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition of America

“To enumerate his many accomplishments and deeds of service to the church and the human family would literally fill volumes.”

_ Archbishop John Myers of Newark, N.J.

“No pope did more for the Jews than John Paul II.”

_ Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center

“His major legacy to Christians within and outside the Roman Catholic Church was the pope’s commitment to the incarnate Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior, along with his commitment to the presence of the Holy Spirit.”

_ The Rev. Robert Schuller, pastor of the Crystal Cathedral and host of the “Hour of Power” television program

“Quite apart from his role as a spiritual guide to more than a billion men, women and children, he was a tireless advocate of peace, a true pioneer in interfaith dialogue and a strong force for critical self-evaluation by the church itself.”


_ U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan

“He never wavered, never flinched, in the struggle for what he thought was good and right. Yet, whatever his own hardship and experience of what was wrong in human nature, he never lost faith in the human spirit and its ultimate capacity to do good.”

_ British Prime Minister Tony Blair

“We, as Orthodox Christians, will always remember, among other instances, (his) expression of a desire for reconciliation and unity as we pray for the repose of his soul.”

_ The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

“Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II) remembers the untiring efforts of Pope John Paul II in promoting peace and goodwill throughout the world.”

_ A statement from Buckingham Palace

“He will be long remembered for his tireless efforts to promote world peace and for his great warmth of personality.”

_ Prince Charles, prince of Wales

“Few Jews will forget his visit to the synagogue in Rome or his deeply moving pilgrimage to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. That one act of atonement for the suffering caused to Jews by the church was one of the great healing moments of our time.”

_ Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of Great Britain

“Pope John Paul II was surely one of the most outstanding people of the 20th century. His personal warmth and ability to engage with people made him a charismatic figure.”


_ The Rev. Alison Elliot, moderator of the Church of Scotland

“With his vision and dedication, the day when people of faith will view people of other faiths as being partners in faith, rather than in competition with each other to save souls, is not far.”

_ Anahat Kaur, vice chairperson of World Sikh Council _ America Region

“John Paul II was the first bishop to visit a synagogue in almost 2,000 years. He repeatedly stated that anti-Semitism is a sin against God and that there is no room in Christianity for anti-Semitic interpretations of Christian texts.”

_ Eugene Korn, director of Jewish affairs and intergroup relations, American Jewish Congress

“We … join people everywhere in thanking God for the long and remarkable ministry of this beloved Christian leader and pray God’s blessing on the Roman Catholic Church as it seeks guidance in selecting a successor.”

_ The Rev. Kenneth Kearon, secretary general of the Anglican Communion

“Throughout the many years of his service as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, he was a shining example of dedication to the episcopal ministry and to the high office to which he was called and a good steward of the manifold grace of God.”

_ Metropolitan Herman, primate of the Orthodox Church in America

“While we had our disagreements _ on gender equality, reproductive rights, and the rights of gays and lesbians _ we never doubted for a moment that he was a man of profound principle, courage and vision. Even when our religious traditions led us to different conclusions, John Paul II always found new opportunities for re-engaging in our common purpose of bringing justice with mercy into the human community.”

_ Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism

“The life and witness of John Paul II spanned the horrors of the 20th _ and now into 21st _ centuries. All those movements and events that conspired to undermine human dignity _ from Hitler’s Fascism, to Marxist-Leninist gulags, to the debasement of human sexuality, to the culture of death _ he stood against all with courage and faith, lifting up a vision of humankind as our Creator intended us.”


_ Diane Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy

“His guidance renewed in us our need to come together as one human family and challenged us to reach out to the poorest of the poor _ not just to alleviate their suffering but to help them fulfill their potential and maintain their dignity as human persons.”

_ Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services

“With the loss of this amazing figure the world is missing one of the greatest men of our time, but for all of us touched by his time here on Earth, we are consoled in the knowledge that we are strengthened by his legacy.”

_ Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council

“Throughout his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II’s theme has always been `Be not afraid.’ He lived this belief and serves as an inspiration to millions of Christians.”

_ Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of Traditional Values Coalition

“The pope’s willingness to reach out to Christians outside of the Roman Catholic faith was critical to promoting unity across the Christian family. His vision, his determination, and his loving spirit will be missed by Christians around the world.”

_ Chuck Colson, founder and president of Prison Fellowship

“The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd, the world has lost a champion of human freedom, and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home.”

_ President George W. Bush

“Pope John Paul II was unquestionably the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world during the last 100 years. His extraordinary gifts, his strong Catholic faith, and his experience of human tyranny and suffering in his native Poland all shaped him, and yet he was respected by men and women from every conceivable background across the world. He was truly one of those rare individuals whose legacy will endure long after he has gone.”


_ Evangelist Billy Graham

“Pope John Paul II took as an informal motto of his papacy the words of Scripture, `Be not afraid!’ Through these 26 years, he taught us in word and deed the meaning of this phrase _ that all who wholeheartedly open their lives to Christ and belong to him have nothing to fear in this world or the next.”

_ Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Let us pray for the repose of his great soul. I have to believe that there will be great joy in heaven on the return home of the vicar of Christ.”

_ Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of Washington

“The world now mourns the loss of this man of God whose spirit and devotion, even in the face of frail health, exemplified Jesus Christ’s own love for the church.”

_ Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago

“A genius with languages and with the new ideas of our age, he will be remembered as a giant of our time, and of every time.”

_ Cardinal William Keeler, archbishop of Baltimore

“From the perspective of Christian faith, Pope John Paul II was never a more compelling witness to the hope of the Gospel than in his last years and months. Even in his diminishment and dying, our Holy Father offered himself as a gift for the church and the world, emptying himself, pouring himself out before us … and through self-giving unto death, has become life, light and love for the world.”


_ Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles

“Our beloved Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has been called home to God. To his dying breath, he has served God and the church with unwavering love and his own steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.”

_ Cardinal Adam Maida, archbishop of Detroit

“This pope may have come from a faraway place, but he grew close to the hearts of millions over the years in every part of the world.”

_ Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia

“His Holiness John Paul II will be remembered as one of the most courageous spiritual leaders of our time. He demonstrated this courage as much in his illness as he did through his leadership, his writings and his pronouncements.”

_ The Rev. Samuel Kobia, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

“He was truly the pope of peace, whose commitment to the cause of peace is unmatched in our time.”

_ Carl Anderson, supreme knight, Knights of Columbus

“He engaged in a passionate quest to end hostilities in all the hot spots of the globe and to advance human rights everywhere. He spoke forthrightly on the scandal of want and need among the global family, calling to task the wealthy and secure, urging them to invest in economic systems that support human dignity and well-being.”

_ The Rev. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches

“I think history will record Pope John Paul II as one of the most significant, historic figures of the 20th century, on a par with great statesmen and world leaders. In many ways, he was as eloquent a spokesman for the inherent and intrinsic value of every human being as Winston Churchill was for freedom and liberty.”


_ Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

“A man of the people, he championed the cause of justice and peace not only for his native Poland but on behalf of all the peoples of the world. He welcomed into his embrace people of every creed and race, but his love for young people was a special example of his care for all.”

_ The Rev. Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and president of the Lutheran World Federation

“Pope John Paul II was a religious leader of inordinate conviction, courage and compassion who bridged the gulf between intellect and spirit, piety and poverty, church and synagogue to leave the world a better place.”

_ Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York

“In word and deed, Pope John Paul II worked tirelessly to repair the church’s painful 2,000-year history with the Jewish people. … He was a man of God in every sense and a true friend whose visionary leadership will be sorely missed.”

_ Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League

“The historic and landmark contributions that he made to Catholic-Jewish relations were pioneering and invaluable. The pope’s denunciation of anti-Semitism as a sin against God, which he made as he traveled around the world, is all the more important in light of the alarming trends we see today.”

_ Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

“His voice and moral authority gave inspiration and hope to millions well beyond the Roman Catholic Church. His commitment to the unity of the church expressed itself in his personal willingness to meet with representatives of other faith communities and to invite those outside his own tradition to reflect on how the ministry of the bishop of Rome might be of greater service both in the cause of Christian unity and the well-being of the world.”


_ The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church

“I hope that this pope will be remembered most for the remarkable things he did to bring forgiveness to a higher level of discussion in Christian circles. That will, I believe, be one of his lasting legacies and perhaps his greatest achievement as pope. On a personal level, the pope forgave his would-be assassin _ a remarkable act and an amazing testimony to Christian forgiveness.

_ John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.

“Pope John Paul II was one of the giants of our time. The pope enlisted his vigorous intellect, abundant charisma and considerable will in causes of peace and political freedom. In so doing, he changed not only his church, but our world. His influence will echo down the ages.”

_ The Right Rev. John Chane, Episcopal bishop of Washington

“ He’s … a pope that has reached out … as far as he could afford to reach. He’s reached out to other faith groups in an effort to create a sense of peace between us.”

_ Bishop J. Delano Ellis, president of the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops

“Muslims worldwide respected Pope John Paul II as an advocate for justice and human rights. His message of international peace and interfaith reconciliation is one that will reverberate for decades to come.”

_ Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations

“On the temporal level, this papacy was a profound disappointment for those who believe that Christ’s message of liberation, human freedom and more democracy should apply not just to the world, but to the church itself. … He was a pope, but he was a man. He was human; he did good things and bad things. He had glorious achievements and abject failures. God has finally taken him home and, I am sure, welcomed him with love and compassion.”


_ Frances Kissling, president of Catholics for a Free Choice

“In our still violent world, John Paul never failed to witness on behalf of the innocent victims of conflict and war. His deep compassion will serve as a lasting legacy and tribute.”

_ The Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

“He spoke with conviction, he was principled, he challenged us and said hard things. Even those who disagreed with him admired his honesty and conviction. He will be sorely missed; he will be a hard act to follow. May he rest in peace.”

_ The Rev. Tom Reese, editor of the Jesuit magazine America

“To Pope John Paul II, the bishop of Rome, we echo Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:14-30: `Well done, good and faithful servant, come share in your master’s joy.”’

_ Sister Christine Schenk, executive director, FutureChurch

“Pope John Paul II was a towering figure representing righteousness, spirituality and humanity. His spirit and his legacy are a testament to his dedication to making the world better through the healing of injustices and past misunderstandings.”

_ Marie Abrams, chairwoman of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs

“While (we) and Pope John Paul II had clearly divergent views concerning women, today we express sorrow at his passing and honor the fullness of his life. (We) also grieve for the actions the pope left undone for women’s equality in the church and the world.”

_ Joy Barnes, executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference

“We pray for the repose of his soul, and we pray that the Holy Spirit will provide our church with a leader who shares Pope John Paul II’s strong voice and moral courage, but who will provide us with a church that is more open to dialogue, reconciliation and gay/lesbian equality.”


_ Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry

“His earthly life is now finished. His teaching, however, will go on: `Be not afraid!’ May God grant him eternal rest and peace.”

_ Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh

“We give thanks to God for giving us Pope John Paul II _ brother, father, grandfather, teacher, shepherd, vicar of Christ. And we thank Pope John Paul II for being all of those things to us, with us and for us in such an extraordinary way.”

_ The Rev. David O’Connell, president of the Catholic University of America.

“The poor were never far from the heart of Pope John Paul II.”

_ The Rev. Larry Synder, president of Catholic Charities USA

“Differences we have in theological perspective do not keep us from giving testimony to this remarkable legacy of faith and we celebrate those achievements even as we mourn his death.”

_ The Rev. John Thomas, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ

“He provided inspiration and leadership, not only to Roman Catholics but also to the greater Christian world and beyond with his uncompromising stances in favor of life and against the culture of death. Though historic differences between our churches remain, Pope John Paul II will also be remembered for his call for Christian churches to seek to work out their differences in faithfulness to their convictions and to their doctrinal heritage.”

_ The Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

“The pope was a man of true peace and justice. His strong commitment to human rights, democracy and interreligious dialogue will not be forgotten.”


_ Pawan Deshpande, member of the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council

“John Paul II presented evangelicals with a pope in whom we found amazing ground of agreement and personal respect even as we believe the office he holds is not a biblical office. … I think evangelicals also recognize that in the passing of John Paul II we may never see his likes again; and there’s a real sense of loss in that even as we continue to be greatly concerned about the institution of the papacy, we have great admiration for the man.”

_ R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“John Paul II has been the most beloved religious leader of our age _ far surpassing in popular admiration the leader of any faith. He has been a man of great warmth, profound understanding, deep spirituality and indefatigable vigor. … His personal magnetism brought together all Christians in new bonds of understanding.”

_ Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson

“The pope’s voice remained firm in defense of freedom, family and Christianity. On matters of principle and morality, he was uncompromising. On his compassion for the world’s poor, he has been unwavering.”

_ First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

“Pope John Paul II was passionate in his commitment to doing God’s work here on Earth, seeking peace and justice for all. His deeds, his words, and his indomitable spirit of love were a blessing to this world. Pope John Paul II was a man of God, and he was also a man of the people.”

_ House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

KRE/PH END RNS

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