John Paul II was a great man

Today the Collegian marks the passing of Pope John Paul II, a man of great courage and faith.

John Paul, born Karol Wojtyla, grew up the son of a tailor in Krakow, Poland. Known affectionately as “Lolek,” Wojtyla was a talented and athletic youth. He wrote and acted in plays, performed poetry readings, played goalkeeper for his local soccer team, skied, hiked, swam, and is said to have had a good singing voice.

Despite his humble beginnings, he would come to be thought of by many as the most influential figure of the 20th Century.

John Paul introduced a new era for the papacy, traveling around the world, visiting 120 countries during his tenure. More people have seen John Paul II in person than any other figure in history. He believed his service to Christ included embracing mankind to show Christ's love.

John Paul's outlook on Christian love can be seen through his words to the United Nations in 1995:

“As a Christian, my hope and trust are centered on Jesus Christ... [who] is for us God made man, and made a part of the history of humanity... Because of the radiant humanity of Christ, nothing genuinely human fails to touch the hearts of Christians. Faith in Christ does not impel us to intolerance. On the contrary, it obliges us to engage others in a respectful dialogue. Love of Christ does not distract us from interest in others, but rather invites us to responsibility for them, to the exclusion of no one...”

Because of his understanding of God's love, John Paul understood the importance of human rights, and the dignity of human life. It was this belief that led him to oppose communism and encourage oppressed citizens to stand up for their rights. John Paul experienced communism firsthand as a priest in Poland, forcing him into an underground seminary. He was not afraid to engage in the political arena, like when he chastized Fidel Castro for his regime's religious restrictions, or when he voiced his disapproval for the Persian Gulf War.

More recently, in March 2000, he offered the church's apologies to Jews, heretics, women, and indigenous peoples for past wrongs done by the Catholic Church. This act of great moral courage and humility was telling of the high character of John Paul II.

When he passed away, crowds gathered outside the Vatican paused, and then gave a moving round of applause.

Likewise, though we mourn our loss of this great man, we should celebrate his life: A life spent in the service of Christ and mankind.