The final journey of a much traveled Pope

One approaches commentary on the passing of John Paul II with a bit of trepidation. For one flippant comment could render your humbled servant off to eternal damnation, a fate that I for one would like to avoid if at all possible.

However, where angels fear to tread we shall weigh in. Having spent the better part of the last 72 hours watching television and for the most part watching CNN (which surely must be applying for a name change to VNN for this week only) it's hard not to get caught up in the momentous nature of this passing of the Pontiff.

The sheer numbers of those passing through St. Peter's Basilica to pay there respects or spend mere seconds before his body is testimony to the impact that this humble son of Poland brought to our world. With his passing brings to an end a most remarkable papacy, from his very early days as leader of the Worlds Roman Catholic community he was like no other Pope that we have ever seen. By far the extreme high visibility of this Pope was something that the world had not experienced before. Past Pontiff's had led a rather cloistered life, rarely straying from their base at St. Peter's their dictums put forward by Cardinals, Bishops and Parish priests, to travel to the people to make these bold and sometimes controversial decisions in person was something that just never happened before.

While John Paul II was very much a Conservative in his adherence to Catholic dogma, his willingness to take his beliefs to the very corners of the world, guaranteed that no one would be able to say they did not know where this Pontiff stood on his issues of faith and morality. Roman Catholics have many questions on some of the edicts from our church and certainly the debate continues on as the Pope takes his leave, but in this Pope there were no grey areas, we knew where he stood on every issue. Never shy to challenge us to explore our faith, he set the agenda each and every time. His commitment to his beliefs would never be questioned, his desire to form Catholicism to his understanding of the traditions would continue to the very end.

An outspoken advocate for the poor, the weak and the sick he took world leaders to task many times for losing sight of the bigger picture for all. Rich countries ignore the plight of the poor ones at their peril, it was a cause that the Pope frequently championed, one picked up by politicians and pop stars alike, but for those that are starving or weak in health, the voice of the Pope was the one they heard and responded to, a little less alone in their struggle with his prayers.

A frequent Apostle for peace he must have felt many days of frustration as our world seemed to spin more and more into the dark of war, fear and hopelessness. As he passes on to his next challenge, there are still so many troubled parts of our planet, yet he can take his leave with the respect of a world that yearns for his message to find ears willing to hear.

This was a Pope that made decisions never seen before, striving to bring the world's religions closer together. He made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and with a visit to the Wailing wall built bridges to the Jewish community, likewise a trip to Syria brought this Christian leader to a Mosque, a sign of respect to a growing force in the world and one which is much misunderstood. His travels to Poland are legendary, one man returning home seemed to give an entire nation the strength to loosen the bonds of Communism. While Ronald Reagan urged Mikhail Gorbachev "to tear down this wall", the Pope had already been chipping away at the foundation, setting in motion many of the amazing changes that Europe has seen over the last twenty years. He interceeded on behalf of many other persecuted peoples of the world, his trip to Cuba giving hope to a nation that officially has no need to religion yet continues to profess faith despite government advice. He sought to provide a light in the window for those that perhaps were close to giving up hope.

His introduction of World Youth Day was originally greeted with a healthy bit of cynicism, many observers questioning what an elderly man of a conservative religious bent could offer to the youth of today, a very liberal, materialistic and self centered generation more in tune with its own wants and desires than on serving the greater good. Yet over the years they have arrived in the millions to share with him the word of what can be done by those that care. These World Youth Day Gatherings have been perhaps John Paul II's greatest success, for they brought together the young with the old and if even only a portion of those that attended have gone out and lived a more noble life, striving to make their world just a little bit better, than these gatherings were surely worthy of their designers dreams.

As John Paul II rests in the Basilica of St. Peter this week for the millions of pilgrims that will pass by to pay their respects, the Catholic church will begin the task of finding someone to fill these shoes. A task that will dictate the path of the world's 1 billion Roman Catholics and set a moral windvane for the rest of the world as well. There are many points that Catholics wait to see addressed, the question of a stronger role for women in the church, the issues of homosexuality and birth control, indeed there are many factions in the tent that is Catholicism all with an opinion on where the Church should go in the future. While John Paul II is much revered, there still are many questions left unanswered during his time, questions of faith while deeply personal now become part of the debate with his passing.

Will the next Pope allow a more liberal interpretation of Catholic law or will the Conservative leanings continue on to the next pontificate? This is just one of the many things that the conclave shall ponder, as they gather in Rome following the Pope's funeral. Their decision will set the tone for the followers for years to come, will the next Pope be from Africa? From Asia? Or will the Church return to its Roman roots and elevate an Italian to lead the flock on to the future. Regardless of who they choose, the task must surely be daunting. The next Pope has an incredible challenge to take on and the shoes that are to be filled are large. The next Pope must truly understand that he will be in the shadow of John Paul II for many years to come. It will take some bold measures to place a new stamp on the next papacy!

Friday John Paul II will be laid to rest, in what will be most likely the most watched television event in our History. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Religious leaders and the rich and the poor alike shall gather in St. Peter's Square to celebrate the life of John Paul II. Perhaps billions more will watch around the globe in a spectacle rarely seen in our times. While many will have a difference of opinion on his path traveled these many years, no one will question his dedication to his beliefs. His ability to not only share the word of God with his flock, but to bridge the gaps between the World's religions, could be why his passing has become such an all encompassing event this week.

It's a recognition and a celebration of a most extraordinary life, a historical moment that we travel together. Whether you agree with many of his beliefs over the years or not, one thing is certain, there are few people in our world that have had as much of an impact as this Pope has had on our society. He brought the Catholic Church into the modern era of communication, while at the same time he seemed to remain steeped in the ages of ancient tradition.

On Friday, we share together a major timeline in our history. His journey on earth will have come to an end, ours will continue on. How our world evolves over the years will be a testimony to his time with us and what we have taken from his stewardship over the last 26 years.