h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On a personal note:

Attending World Youth Day 1993 in Denver was one of the greatest experiences of my life. John Paul II took such delight in spending time with young people, and it was wonderful to see the way he enjoyed interacting with everyone. I've been blessed to see him in person on a few occasions, but none meant more to me than that experience. It was after that particular trip that my brother started calling my sister and I "Pope-pourris."

I suppose I've always looked upon him as a grandfatherly figure ... old-fashioned for sure, with some infuriating opinions at times, but with such love for his "family." I'm going to truly miss him, but I'm glad his pain is finally over. I found myself praying for that more than for his healing lately. I know he'd rather be where he is now, and although I mourn his loss, I can't be too sad, as I'm sure he's gotten his reward.

I was wondering earlier today if you'd ever seen him, when I read that he'd been at Shea stadium at some point during his years as pope.

I'm sure there are many in this world who looked upon him in much the same way as you did, and will miss him greatly.

As you know,I'm not Catholic, so I don't have the same sort of connection to these events, but he's been a highly reccognizable world leader for so long that it'll be strange for another man to be in that position.

Considering how uninspiring many of our world leaders have been recently, it was nice to have a first-rate person leading the Roman Catholic Church. His shoes will be hard to fill, though I hope they are successfully filled.

Like Lady Scott, I come from a different set of traditions than the Pope does. Nevertheless, I am always interested to know what the Pope has to say. For that matter, I am also very impressed with the current Dalai Lama. Extraordinary people don't come along every day. Sometimes you have to wait a very long time. Somehow, we've been lucky enough to have two.

Whilst I didn't agree with a lot of what he had to say, the man certainly had vision and gravitas. Not a pope content to just go through the motions, he made things happen and he stamped his mark on the office of pope. I'm sure the fact that the Vatican was apparently so much more open about his final few weeks than it normally is in such circumstances was his doing.

For the last few days and nights I have been glued to my headphones for the TV.

I truly revered the man, and although found the insistence on some of the Church's dictums extremely difficult to adhere to, nevertheless felt that the Church was correct and I was in the wrong.

I believe that his work towards the rapprochement of the various beliefs has been both world shattering and mind blowing. Our Holy Father respected every Faith and truly believed that Christian, Muslim and Jew could live in harmony. I am looking forward to reading all his books. I know that he wrote a wonderful book on Love when he was 27. This is going to be a treat for me.

May his dear soul rest in Peace and thank you, dear Father for having carried out your work so courageously and with such wonderful love and panache We shall miss you but are ever grateful that we were able to experience your leadership of our Church and were such a respected strength in the world community of leaders.

I feel a fraud putting down my run-name when I would like to put down my RL name, so will just send you all my love and prayers with the sincere wish that we may all try to follow in his

I'm saddened to see his watch come to an end, but celebrate a course well run ... a man who ebodied the love, strength, and light of Jesus in all that he did.

I will miss him.

s

I too am saddened by his loss. I'm happy that his pain and illness is over and have no doubt he is now experiencing a very well deserved reward.

There were a great many occasions when I disagreed with his thoughts on subjects. Indeed times I was annoyed cross-eyed by them. But this is a man who left a real mark not just on the office of Pope and the Catholic church, but on the world as a whole. He had done more to further peace, freedom and human rights than any 3 people in this world during the time of his reign as Pope. His shoes will indeed be very hard to fill.

You mentioned reading his books, AR1. I've read a few, and I've enjoyed them. I'm currently reading "Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way" which is a continuation of his life story ("Gift and Mystery" was the book he wrote about his early years as a priest, which I haven't read yet). It picks it up when he had to leave a canoe trip to be appointed bishop ... he was able to finish the trip afterwards. Reading it, it makes you wish you were one of the students "Uncle" used to take on canoe, camping, hiking trips. It must have been fascinating talk around that campfire at night!

Piffle! Although some aspects of Catholicism appeal, like the fact that priests enjoy a good drink and a knees-up and you can confess stuff which I think is quite a healthy ritual, I have no time whatsoever for the anti condom stuff which means loads more people get aids, and loads more women needlessly get pregnant, leading to misery and overpopulation. Plus I am very pro choice, having heard about the misery of backstreet abortions from friends of my mother. Loads of Irish women come to London every year to get abortions. And I think it's bloody stupid that women aren't allowed to be priests.

I hope I haven't offended anyone to much by expressing my opinions, but I'm not the most polite limey in the world.

s to all. Although I'm no Christian I have an instinctive warm heart towards good people, however much I may disagree with them!

I also am from a christian denomination other than Catholic. However, as the Pope heads the "original" church started by the apostle Peter - I have always revered the Pope as the head of all "Christiandom".

He was a good man - loved his god and his fellow humans. Promoted peace throughout the world. Who can ask for more than that from anyone? Sure we don't all agree with everything he (as the head of the Catholic Church) stood for - but that's human nature.

I am so happy he is out of pain now. I hope that whoever they choose to replace him has as much love as John Paul II did for everyone. Christian and non-christian alike.

Hi shea,

What a lovely lot of memories you started.

I have been watching CNN and SKY NEWS day and night since last Thursday. They have given the most wonderful coverage to all the events. It has also helped me to understand a lot of the things about the Church which I used to get cross about.!!. Including the tragic rejection of Liberation Theology.

I also know that his philosophical inclinations were phenomenological, and as I also am a phenomenologist, I have always thought that it made immense sense.

Unfortunately I have been proper pooly for the last twelve days and have had to put off my appointment to have my teeth attended to on Wednesday as I still have a temperature and feel lousy.

My darling Dick used to say

"getting old is not for sissies".

Well that is surely right. As soon as I can collect my wits together (hopefully) I shall give you the list of his books. I have all his encyclicals, and quite honestly they do make sense,,.

One of the quotations which I remember over the past five days was

"The attitude of the Church must be articulated. There are people who will accept it and those that won't. It is up to them to choose!.

And that is the whole point. We have got the choice. Fortunately however we believe in an all-forgiving, compassionate God.

Thank you all for your expressions of sympathy and admiration for a man who truly turned the tide of hsitory during his lifetime. Incidentally he considered that he was privileged to have been chosen to bear the pain and trauma that he had . There was a very good article which came from him over the last month talking about the "divinization" of health. He argues that in these modern day times. if one is not 100% fighting fit, lean, active and young, that really one's life is not worth living.

Well I have never believed this to be the case. I believe that every single person is "made in the image of God" has some hidden talent and gift. It is up to each and every one of us to help the person discover it and then to help him/her to develop it.

And certainly over the last six months the late Pope has been making more and more appeals for those who are "marginalised! through ill health. be accepted.

Sorry but my head is reeling so back to bed.

"May his dear soul rest in Peace."

with much affection to all

Christiane

I respect other people's opinions, red ... and hope that others will extend the same courtesy to me. It'd be a boring old world if we all thought alike!

Thanks for your thoughts, AR1. I'd be interested in a list.

"getting old is not for sissies" ... that's the truth! It's interesting how some of our biggest news stories in the past month or so are making people take a close look at the worth of lives they may not have even noticed before. I've learned so much from homebound friends! It makes me keep going back for more. I know that some of my friends are surprised that when I do volunteer work, it's for visiting and taking the Eucharist to the homebound, but it's given so much more to me than I've given!

JPII was a man of peace and will be sorely missed.

What a wonderful way to volunteer, Shea!

Thanks, Batty. I really thought about it, and realized if I wanted there to be somebody for me when I needed them, I should be there for others when they're in need. It's only fair.

That's so true. A long time ago (before I even lived in NYC) I volunteered for a group called RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network) that did something similar. We didn't take the Eucharist to patients but our "job" was to go over and spend time with terminal patients (hang out, maybe read to them, help around the house a bit) since so often that's when their families and friends stay away. It was hard because you knew the end was the same, but it was so rewarding.

Sorry if I expressed myself a little insensitively at this time Shea! I can be refreshing but I can also be a thoughtless idiot. Love red.

Wonderful my

I am just a comforting ear - I hope!! and maker of nourishing soups!!

Much affection

Christiane

That is so good Batty. Nice to meet you here. Hope you are much better and also enjoying your new job.

Much affection

Christiane

That's super, Batty. What goes around comes around ... or something like that ...