Pope John Paul II
by Robert S. Altman

I write this article, not after the Pope's death, but while he is alive. I think it will be easier this way, because his loss will strike me very hard.

First of all, let me say I am Catholic, pro-choice, anti-death penalty, somewhat religious, believe in birth control and don't care if women are priests or not. I am fine by gay marriage, although it is not at the top of my agenda. I believe that government plays an important role in helping and empowering the poor.

On many of these positions, I disagree with the Catholic Church and the Pope. On some, I agree. And yet, it is unimportant to me when I look at this great man and superior leader.

I have seen a lot of religious leaders in my years. But my first realization that this Pope "got it", in the sense that he understood what his religion was about, came during the AIDS crisis in the early 1980's.

It was in the middle of all the hysteria. Gays were being ostracized, condemned and even feared. The religious right was downright cruel to homosexuals and the public seemed ready to go along. During this time a bishop in San Francisco said quite clearly and controversially that "AIDS is God's punishment upon homosexuals." It was a highly publicized comment, but one which, unfortunately, too many people were ready to believe.

The Pope was preparing to come to America and he was asked at a news conference what he thought of the bishop's statement. John Paul II thought for a moment and simply replied, "People should be very careful about reading God's mind."

To this day, I have remembered that response. It seems all too appropriate in an era where so many people seem to be able to read God's mind. The response was also perfect for another reason. If the Pope had gone beyond the statement and decided to condemn the bishop, the Pope too would have been guilty of reading God's mind.

In matters of judgment, John Paul II was always thoughtful. He immediately forgave his would-be assassin, Mohammed Ali Agca. Now, there are many Catholics who are taught that. But each year that Agca served in prison, John Paul II would visit him in prison on the anniversary of the attack and pray with him. The Pope also urged his release stating he believed that Agca was the pawn of higher forces, a conspiracy theory that is only now beginning to be shown to be true.

This Pope understood forgiveness from both sides. He was quick to forgive and made it a point to do so on many occasions. But then as the Millennium approached, John Paul II understood that being forgiving was not enough, that sometimes humility required that one ask for that same forgiveness. He proceeded to apologize for the centuries of sins committed by members of the Church. He did so without ego and with complete humility. He did not demand anything in return, the requests were not negotiated settlement. And forgiveness was not demanded.

As an example, I remember the time when the Pope visited Greece and the Greek Orthodox Archbishop chastised the Catholic Church for its sins against the Greek Church dating back centuries. After listening to this tirade, John Paul II then read from a prepared text, asking for forgiveness for those sins and as he did the Greek Archbishop cheered and clapped. A lesser man would have been stoic and maybe not have asked for forgiveness, but a request for forgiveness is not always made in perfect circumstances and the Pope did what he set out to do.

Many people chastised the Pope for differentiating between a request for forgiveness for the sins of the people of the Church versus a request for what they saw as forgiveness for the sins of the Church, the latter being what those people demanded. Such people did not understand Catholicism. Catholics believe that the Church itself is in its unity, God. To apologize for the Catholic Church would have been saying that God should apologize and this could not be done in accordance with Catholic doctrine. But in asking for forgiveness for the sins of the Church's fallible people, John Paul II recognized the errors of the people over the years whose works, while done on behalf of the Church, were not of the Church. I never expected to see this in my lifetime. I was once again humbled by the holiness of this Pope when it was done.

Every time John Paul II would visit a country, he would speak to them in their language, even learning a few words in some of the few languages he did not seem to know. He would also kiss the ground. The kisses on the ground were meant to be humbling and respectful moments, and showed John Paul II understood that he was the ambassador of Christ, and as the ambassador of Christ, his role was not to be served but to serve.

You could agree or disagree with John Paul II's views. Too many people have viewed them as political, but in fact, they are and were part of the Catholic moral code, and if you fault them, you really fault Catholicism not John Paul II. But in his failure to judge, in his willingness to forgive and in his humbleness in asking for forgiveness, John Paul II got it. He understood the philosophy of Catholicism, he lived the philosophy of Catholicism and he taught us the philosophy of Catholicism. I will miss him greatly.

by Robert S. Altman