CBSNews.com Readers On Pope
CBSNews.com readers have been expressing their reactions to the death of Pope John Paul II this week. Here's just a sample.
I am not a Catholic, but my thoughts and prayers are with all the Catholic people on the loss of Pope John Paul, a true kind and gentle man. He is with God.
Novababy2
We have lost someone who was just like a true father to the whole world. May God welcome him into his heavenly home where I know Pope John Paul will be eternally happy. I love you so much Pope John Paul. May the angels watch over you and the saints guide you.
Maggie Barclay
Pope John Paul was one of the most human popes our church has ever had. Of course like all of us he had his weaknesses, but he has taught us that even in those weaknesses we can find strength. He taught us that it is quite all right to be weak, but also and most of all, to always have a place for the weak in our hearts and lives - it mattered not what race, class or religion they may be. He taught how to live life as gift from God and enjoy it with all its sorrows and joy. Finally, the greatest gift he gave was way to die with dignity, with love and with joy.
Teresa
I'm not Catholic nor did I ever meet Pope John Paul 11, but I feel so much sadness and feel a great loss. Just his presence on this earth brought a sort of peace. We have all lost something wonderful. These times now are so bad but when I would see him on television I always got the feeling that everything would be alright, there was still good and caring because of him. My heart goes out to all of you that had him as your leader and those of you that had the honor to meet him.
Joann M.
Pope John Paul II is the only Pope I ever paid attention to because he was so accessible, as a real leader should be. He's responsible in some way to my final and total conviction that the religion I was born into, Judaism, is the right one for me and for my people and there can be no other for us. Every word of wisdom, every advice the Pope ever uttered can be found in my Bible, the "Old" Testament. All one has to do is learn to read it in the original, not in the translation and interpretation of strangers written centuries after the original.
It is a great pity that one had to experience WWII and the Holocaust to realize what terrible wrongs people have committed in the name of a religion that's so opposed to violence. Luckily this Pope was the first. Although there are fewer and fewer people who have had similar experiences, I do sincerely hope that future generations will learn from this one but great example.
Inbar
We all have different opinions of people in our lives. Some make a difference and some don't. I feel the Pope is a very courageous man. He will be missed very much. God has raised him up to heaven on eagles wings.
Lmksgk01
I have been a practicing Catholic and brought three children through the sacraments, as well as paying for them to go through Catholic school. I am active in my church as a lector, and my two older children were altar servers. According to the current surveys, people like me are supposed to be conservative Catholics. I am not. I have a great deal of respect for John Paul II. I believe he was a sincere and spiritual man. However, we are all products of our age and environment. While the Pope's past experiences led him to a sympathy for the poor and downtrodden, his age I believe, in many ways, prevented him from understanding many of the struggles younger Catholics go through in the everyday world.
For instance, in North America and Europe, the priesthood is dying. I do not believe that the limitations on priests marrying is necessary. In the Eastern Orthodox churches, generally priests wishing to rise in the ranks are expected to be celibate, however, those who simply wish to remain in service to their parish can marry. The wife must agree and has her own role in participating in the life of that church. Eastern Rite Catholic priests are allowed to marry, and married Episcopal priests were allowed to enter into service not too long ago as Catholic priests. As many people know, we went for over ten centuries as Catholics with married priests, and one of the actual reasons for banning marriage was the attempted passage of church assets to the children of married priests. I do not see why we cannot follow the Eastern Church, I believe it would swell the ranks of the priesthood.
This is just one example of where the Pope and I differed. No genuine dialogue was permitted in regard to ideas such as the ordination of women, marriage in the priesthood, contraception and it's role in preventing sexually transmitted diseases, (particularly in third world countries such as Africa), or when circumstances might be appropriate to consider abortion.
I admire the Pope for his integrity, sincerity, and the hard work he did in regard to the poor and disenfranchised. I agreed with his position on the war and the death penalty, and understand how this was consistent with his position on abortion and birth control. I am thankful for all he gave us, and the sacrifices he made for our good, however, I do pray that the next Pope will at least allow some thoughtful discussion in areas I felt were "off limits" the past twenty seven years.
Catnamedlewis
I would like to say that the American media has been surprisingly supportive and positive with the Pope coverage -- some may wonder why, but I have seen too many stereotypes of Catholics within the media. It is known this is a difficult time for the Catholic Church, but now that the Pope is laid to rest, I fear the media will question the Catholic Church more.
I would like to encourage all of my fellow Catholics who read this, not to be shy about their faith. This is the time where we can be most misunderstood, I know this personally, I am a high school student, Polish Catholic, and ironically going to a Dutch Protestant school. I see the ignorance everyday of my faith and the easy belief of stereotypes America has.
In closing, I pray that the entire Catholic Church will be able to grow in faith as God wants us to, and that we will not shut ourselves from the world. They have taken steps of amazing distance to show us respect, (world leaders coming to the funeral for example) I just wish this harmony would last.
Kopijka4
Not to sound rude but I feel way different about all of this, yes I feel really bad for the loss of the pope but I don't see what the big deal is of crying and worshiping him. Every where I go there talking about it, all I know is that there is only one Holy Father and that is God.
Alex1980
The pope is just another guy....like any other guy.....yet people worship him as if he were the golden calf itself.....I believe it is because they are lost and are grasping desperately for anyone or anything to lead them out of the dark.....all the wrong reasons for something ...anything.
shadowman
A false leader who is taking 1.1 billion people with him to hell!
Davis
What's the big deal? LOTS of 84 year old people die. I say out with the old stuffy antiquated and in with hopefully someone who is more progressive in thinking and not living in the 16th century. The entire church is living in the 16th century in every way, out with the old and in with the new.
Randall
A note to CBS and all other news outlets: There are many of us who are not interested in wall to wall coverage of the death of the pope who by his failure to do ANYTHING, condoned massive child abuse by HIS priests.
Donna32155
I am appalled with Bernard Law conducting ANY portion of the celebration of the Pope's funeral. The catholic clergy are "supposed" to be the representatives of Christ. How can they represent Christ and allow one who has defiled the Priesthood and the Lord's children to represent the Holy Father? This is a slap in the face to the victims, American Catholics and the American religious community.
Walwyn
Did you all know that the Pope hasn't been embalmed yet? I would like to know the reason why? It is customary to embalm someone who is going to be on public display for several days. He looks terrible now....his cheeks are sunken in........why are they disrespecting this famous man like this?
Katherina