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"Let me also thank you for you kind opinion. You personality is a lot more "Christian" than either of these two individuals. John Paul II is a great man, responsible for both spiritual and political change throughout his life. The world will be a poorer place without him.
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Thank you. Polite respect for religious leaders isn't exclusively a Christian quality. It's simply a recognition that many people revere this man, and that those people deserve our respect during a difficult time.

This Pope has steadfastly spoken for peace on the planet. Sometimes that speech angers some here on Free Republic, but the Pope is not a US citizen and has no particular responsibility to our nation, or to any other.

I admire that steadfastness, even when I may disagree with it. I've not heard this Pope every say a word in anger. I've seen nothing in him that deserves anything but respect.

Although I am a completely non-religious person, I recognize the importance religious belief has in people's lives. That, alone, is reason enough to be saddened when a great religious leader who speaks of peace is ill and close to death. It is also plenty of reason for those who have petty disagreements with the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church to hold their tongues at this time.

I consider Jesus' teachings about how to treat others to be the best stated of such teachings from any religion. It is a shame that more do not study them.