With his Holinesses visit, my heart has softened toward him. I really like him now. BIG, JPII supporter, I missed him so I never let Pope Benedict in.....until now. What a blessing, his visit.
You are not the only one. Because I am of 50% Polish heritage, and have always loved and admired JPII, when he had passed it was hard for me. When B16 got elected I was not too confortable because of all those rumors about him being like a “rotweiller” when it came to Church doctrine and that I was afraid he was going to be very much a hardliner as a Pope. But when I first heard after he was installed as Pope that he loves cats and also has a pet/animal companion friend living with neighbors of his back home in Germany, then I started to warm up to him. Now I have great love and support for this Pope.