In memory of the Pope

Story after story of the Pope John Paul II has been on the news for the last few days since his death. I must admit that I didn't know much about him when he was alive, all I knew was that he had gone through confronting situations in his life and ministry, and that he was a man of integrity in the eyes of many people in the world.

There’s even talk of rescheduling the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles to avoid a conflict with the pope’s funeral. Both are scheduled on the same day (Friday 8 April). A spokesman says the prince is “sensitive to events that are happening elsewhere around the world” and is “continuing to assess the situation."

There will also be up to two million pilgrims expected to converge on Rome for the service. “It will a moment without precedent,” Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni said. “Rome will grind to a halt to guarantee the full development of the demonstration of love for the pontificate, guaranteeing the maximum security for all the heads of state who will arrive to pay homage to the pope,” he said.

When I reflect on all these, I can't help but think about the importance of the impact of one's life to the people around them. What is the legacy that one leaves when one connects with others. As I heard about the Pope's life story, the person that he was, the legacy that he left behind - I was moved by his love and his response to people, his gracious acts and humility, and his Christ-like character. I think that it wasn't really who he was as the Pope, but his character and his life that made the differences and won the respect of many.