Pope John Paul II is to be commended for his courage and lauded for his efforts to modernize an ancient, much misused and maligned institution to keep it relevant, to make amends for the past horrors and abuses so many have suffered at the hands of certain members of the Church in the past, to meet the changing needs of the present world population.

IMO he is more loved, universally influential and powerful than any secular leader on the globe today. I see him as divinely inspired and guided. Even as an ex-Catholic I'm proud of this Pope. I am keeping him in my thoughts and prayers as he recovers and wish him only the very best.

(Maybe I'll add a prayer or two that he'll be inspired to nominate a black lesbian for Pope next time around - and that he'll be able to do that without getting assassinated!   ;-)

daylia