A Saintly Man

How will he be remembered? He lived through most of the twentieth century. Through the post World War I era, the days of pre-World War II, the war itself and its aftermath. He witnessed the most cruel, terrifying years of the twentieth century. His view was that of an intelligent and sensitive man who understood and felt for the people of his land and by extension, for the entire world.

For those who had faith, daily prayers and communication with God provided the strength and courage that permitted survival. The pain and suffering, the excruciating mental torture of thinking man, living, in particular the war years in a country were Nazi Germany had supreme command and domination, where the Jews in particular were subject to genocide, where anyone in opposition to the government faced torture and death, where the post war years were lived under another tyrannical rule, that of communism, survived, thoughts of peace then, would continue until personal death would be experienced. To live under any oppressive regime with the constant fear the brutal reprisal, for any words spoken or deeds performed, would take its toll on any man but the strength that would lead to survival, through prayer and dreams of peace would also provide the central core of humanistic feelings and understandings that would permit one man to lead not only one religious group but a world wide movement for peace, for the love of fellow man, for an understanding and respect for other religious groups, all of this and more, to eradicate the evils of this world and to bring happiness to all of humanity.

To have lived through most of the troubled twentieth century, to have provided inspiration to billions, to have provided feelings of love and respect for others were the mere reflection of the elements and characteristics of one great man. All of humanity, all the people who were exposed to the words and deeds of this man will cherish thoughts of him and see the illumination of the way to peace on earth. He passed our way, all too quickly but will be remembered for ever, this man of the people, this great man, this man of God, Pope John Paul II. The world was made better through his temporal existence and the future will see peace through his eternal existence!