THIS MAN WAS A POPE | 2005-04-02
The only tragedy about Pope Paul is that, in his senility, the Vatican bureaucracy took over and too often made the Papacy the servant of Fashionable Issues.
I disagreed with much the Pope said because I disagree with many things the Catholic Church stands for. But I also understand who the Pope is. I do not need to agree with a man to see him as a hero.
The real John Paul passed away some time ago. But to his last days he actually BELIEVED. To his last days he was Pope to the extent he could be.
Catholics have no right to grieve for John Paul. They have every right to grieve for themselves.
Catholics are the first to admit that throughout history they have not always had a pope who was actually a pope. Americans will readily admit that we have not always had a president who was actually a president.
Too many popes have just been Top Bureaucrats. This pope never said anything he didn't mean. You could sincerely disagree with him, but you always respected him.
And now John Paul is going Home. There is no sadness in that.