And his personal opinion on the subject agrees with John Paul II.
Who has been deceased for almost a year. I should really post an article from a few months back about the big argument going on in Vatican circles over intelligent design vs. evolution.
I will never get out of my mind the image of this man, in his last years, leaning on his staff, in obvious pain - yet remaining steady, hands clasped around it, eyes closed, in fervent prayer for the millions of lost souls in the world.
His statement on this matter seems to me the most reasonable and elegant interpretation of the topic. And is in agreement with St Augustine's view of the impossibility of understanding Genesis literally. Pretty good company to be in.