Demise of Pope!
By the Editor

THE revered Pope John Paul II—spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church died in the Vatican City on Saturday night—leaving behind over a billion followers around the world to mourn.

The 84-year-old Pope—was suffering from Parkinson’s disease—and was not keeping good health for a quite some time. His condition worsened in last 24 hours and—eventually he breathed his last peacefully.

Significantly, the venerated soul, who led the Catholic Church for 26 years with tenacity and courage—had refused to go to the Hospital and wished to die at his own chambers in the Vatican City.

Tens of thousands of people gathered at St Peters Square after hearing the news of the Pope’s death—that has been mourned around the world.

While President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the tragedy on their own behalf and from the people of Pakistan—the US President Bush has—fittingly said that the world has lost a great champion of human freedom.

A Polish by origin—Pope John Paul II—pragmatically remained a dominant figure in the world for quarter of a century.

Not only that he had introduced democracy in the Church he was— simultaneously—a strong communicator, religious conservative and opponent of communism.

Amid this perception, he introduced democracy in the Church and articulately handled many an inherited problem including married priests and women priests—yet didn’t have enough time to tackle them and had to leave them for the new Pope to address.

The late Pope waged war against AIDS and homosexuality and was bitter opponent of abortion and same sex marriage.

No doubt, he was an ardent supporter of human dignity and strived to act as a bridge—between faiths and religions.

At the same time, he contributed a lot towards unity of Europe and upheld the right of the African people to freedom.

Though he was opposed to the concept of the clash of civilizations—yet his influence on the West for harmony with Islam always remained significant.

Pope John Paul II will be remembered—for a long time—for his role in the collapse of communism in Europe and his unyielding defense of traditional Vatican doctrines.

With the rest of the world, we offer our inmost condolences on the demise of the Pope—and join the Catholic Christians in their hour of mourning, angst and anguish—which has surfaced because of this shocking episode.● 

 —  Mumtaz Hamid Rao
www.MumtazRao.net