Sadness

[Ryalyn]

For those who haven't heard.

Lights a candle.

Be at peace.

[BathroomKey]

Also lights a candle.

27 years of leading an entire faith. He had a great work ethic. Sad, but he ran a good course. Hopfully, there will be more to benefit in this loss.

[kinako mochi]

Representatives of all major faiths attended the funeral. It was a sad day for such a hard-working person. 84 is a full life though, considering the responsibility and stresses he no doubt suffered constantly. Not too shabby for a cardinal virtually pinch-hitting for the unexpectedly-short reign of John Paul I, and the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.

Hopefully, the Church will elect a new Pope a bit less conservative than John Paul II, though. The cracks in the Catholic church in 2005 are making a lot of its faithful suffer greatly. I feel a reckoning of sorts is in the coming.

His faith system may have had flaws, but whose doesn't. He was genuine, and dedicated to his beliefs, which gave him great strength. His quarryman's hands and shoulders were rugged enough to accept the much tougher job of carrying the hearts and minds of his followers, and the sometimes thorny quill of the respect of detractors, with grace and determination.

Many are glad he's passed on, but most people I feel are saddened by his passing.

[Kestralyn]

Many are glad he's passed on, but most people I feel are saddened by his passing.

I am gladdened at his passing; he has been so sick for so long. It's comforting to know that his pain has eased. And that his fellow travellers know he has been taken in by their Deity.

I'm old enough to remember both of the JP Conclaves. I remember being annoyed that my Saturday morning cartoons were being pre-empted by coverage of a huge old building and what color smoke was coming out of its chimney! Once I got older, I realized that I had unwittingly witnessed history in the making.

I am also saddened by his death; he has been a constant in the world for almost three decades. I may not agree with a lot of what he held dear, but I respected the man. Many truly mourn his loss, and I am sad for them.

*lifts her lager and lime to the sky and proposes a toast*

To Karol Wojtyla! May he rest in peace!

[amazon princess]

May he rest in peace. He was maybe a man but I admired him anyways.