World Remembers the Pope as a Man of Peace

Events have been taking place in countries across the world since the Pope John Paul II passed away on Saturday night. People of different faiths and backgrounds in the world have shown their highest respects to the Pope, who lived as the instrument of peace for God on earth. He held firmly onto his faith in Christ and has endured courageously throughout sickness till his last breath.

Born in Wadowice, Poland, on 18th May 1920, the Pope John Paul was originally named Karol Josef Wojtyla. The Pope secretly studied theology during the Nazi occupation of Poland. He became a cardinal at the age of 47 and led the only moral and social force in Poland that could counter communism. In October 1978, the Pope became the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and was given the name John Paul II.

The Pope John Paul II made the historical first papal visit to a nation under Communist rule - Poland. Officially, the country was atheistic. Many have related the Pope’s influence in Poland as a major force in bringing about the fall of the Communist system in the country, and even in Eastern Europe in the late 1980’s. In fact, John Paul II merely inspired the people with a sense of moral superiority and hope, he never criticised the authorities or provoked any uprising or revolution.

There is only one major country that remains outside the Pope's reach - China. China refuses to recognise the Roman Catholic church and currently no papal visit is possible.

The Pope is respected by billions across the globe because he has shown himself to be the one who truly practised the Christian teachings with actions and did not simply preach with his lips. In 1981, Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish gunman that shot Pope John Paul II four times in an attempt to kill him in St. Peter's Square. The Pope forgave him and met him in his Italian prison cell in 1983. This love of forgiveness has demonstrated the true spirit of the Gospel.

In 1986, Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit a Jewish synagogue. There he spoke of how he deplored the "hatred and persecution" of the Jews throughout the centuries. In 1993, he presided over the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel.

After the death of the Pope, Israelis and Arabs united in mourning on Sunday, hailing him as a man of peace who sought to heal ancient wounds and forge a brighter future for the Middle East, according to Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon testified that the Pope had "worked to bring about historic reconciliation" between the Roman Catholic Church and the Jews, and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the Jewish state in 1993. He called John Paul "a friend of the Jewish people".

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described John Paul as "a great religious figure who devoted his life to defending the values of peace, freedom, justice and equality for all races and religions, as well as our people's right to independence."

Being a strong ecumenical leader, the Pope has even been testified by non-Christian leaders. Grand Mufti Ikrima Sabri, the leading Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, called the Pope's passing "a loss for the world, the Catholic Church, peace and freedom-lovers."

The Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas stated in its statement, "We hope this remains the position of the Catholic Church toward our people and our cause and that it will guide its followers to defend the rights of the Palestinian people in confronting the continuous Zionist aggression aimed at Muslims and Christians in their holy land."

Kuwait's ruler Emir Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah said in a condolence message to the Vatican that the Pope was "a great man who worked for the betterment of humanity and for cooperation, understanding and spreading peace among peoples."