( . . . good for him, though. BTW, I didn't know he was protestant, I didn't know he was a member of any church.)
A caller compared Michael J. Fox and John Paul II's reaction to Parkinsons. She pointed out that the media made a victim soul out of Fox and mocked the Pope, calling him a moron, etc. she finished up by saying that this is really about abortion.
Rush agreed, and recalled the media asking why the pope didn't step down. I believe that when Rush said "Vicar of Christ", he actually put quote marks around it as he was suggesting what the lib elite types were describing. (e.g. "That man is the Vicar of Christ, he can't represent the Gospel quaking like that.") Both agreed that John Paul II allowed his weakness to go on display, not as a show, but to let people know that suffering isn't evil. And bearing it patiently is good. That was the understanding I got while driving and hearing Rush. I don't believe he actually said "The Pope is the Vicar of Christ" in his own voice. He is deeply respectful of the Holy Father, however.
Our broadcast of Rush is delayed here, but I believe it was in the segment which was broadcast just now - a caller was making the point that the media was very unsympathetic when the Holy Father spoke in public and his Parkinson's was so obvious - and that this whole stem cell flap is just all about abortion. I didn't hear the whole thing, but Rush said (paraphrasing) that the Holy Father believed that his suffering was for a purpose, that he showed courage in his suffering, and that he was the leader of his flock, which grew while he was its leader, and the media couldn't stand it. (I was unloading the dishwasher and not paying full attention. Sorry ...)