The pope's passing

The pope has died, but he is not forgotten. It has been inspiring to watch, hear and read about the story of his life, how he fought for freedom, not with the "sword," but with his heart and his words. Because of what he and others did, communism in his native Poland ended and the domino effect rippled throughout eastern Europe. Because of this, eventually even the communist dictator in Romania fell, and this opened the way for us to adopt our daughter who was one of the iron crib babies trapped in Romanian orphanages.

I remember when Pope Paul VI died. I was a college student, a summer missionary working in the English language service of HCJB radio. One of my jobs was to do a nightly newscast. I remember the elaborate plans for the pope's funeral, and the great care and ceremony not only with the events of his death, but of the plans to select a new pope. Little did we know that the new pope, Pope John Paul I, would only live for 33 days into his service. Then in October, a new pope was selected again--Pope John Paul II. What an amazing man he was--a man of the people, who traveled to over 100 countries during his term. He challenged us to face the evils of our time, to fight evil with good. His whole life was a testimony to the value of life--even and perhaps especially at the end as we watched him suffer with dignity and grace as he battled Parkinson's disease and arthritis. He showed us that suffering is something that can be endured and even embraced, that it brings us closer to Christ and can be an example to others who suffer.

As we mourn the loss of this great man of God, let us turn to God as the giver of life and the healer of hearts and bodies. The pope is no longer suffering in his body. One day, we too will be relieved of the suffering of this world. Yet as we go through trials, may we be examples to others of hope and faith as John Paul II certainly was.