overrated as hell...

I guess, it is not easy to get to the top power for a nice and descent man. Functioners from religion is not much difference. However, John Paul seems to be a rare exception. Not always he did right things (from my personal point of view), but I am sure that he tried to make the World a better place, and he truly believed that it is possible. Also, he did offered a friendly hand to people from other religious concessions. It is a great man in a history!

I am not an overly religous person, but Pope JP even made me feel like he cared!  I don't know how he ended up in the hearts of even the non-religous, but he did! At least in my case and to do that takes a man of honesty, honor, and heart!

Mixed bag. Conservative on some issues. Terrible on condoms. Good on interfaith dialogue. Talked the talk on peace. Created a shitload of saints.

By the time the 21st century came around, JP2's best days were behind him.

To sum up his career, he started off not bad by the standards of popes, with some good work on human rights that was offset by the usual Vatican nonsense.

Hes the best pope in modern history.He helped the us pressure the soviets while doing it in a nonviolent manner (im lookin at you regan!)Also he never lost his faith.

The most beloved Pope who ever lived. He refused to budge on issues relating to the Catholic Church, despite changes in society. Help save the catholic Church during the sex scandal

He seemed to really live what the Gospels taught and went out and evangalized which is something catholics don't do much of. He started out with nothing, at a young age lost everyone in his family, lived through WW2, and look what he accomplished. He stuck by his convictions which to me is a sign of strength. Like it has been written, he was the people's Pope. Personally, he is an inspiration to me.

As a pope he seems to have done a fine job but I think his relevance has slowly failed as has his health. It hard to put trust in a man who can bare make a sentance. This is not a critisim just a fact and the idea that he is leader for life is difficult concept to accept in the 21st century.

I can only wish him well on his journey in to eternity...Fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.Amen.

He was and still is the greatest man in the world.

He was a great man and will be noted in history. He helped tube the commies.

he was loved by many and to the very end he tried to do the best he could. he never forgot what it meant to be the pope. he had a gentle face and a kind heart and dedication

he was a leader? He was just an old guy who is obessed with something we dont even know the truth about.

Overated con artist of the highest magnitude.

The thing I liked about Pope John Paul II was that he had a great appeal to more than just Catholics. A great diplomat and a noble person.

A warm, prayerful, concerned, wise and intelligent both, what more could one ask for in a Pope. I am thankful he served for such a long time, and even in the end, he showed us how to patiently and nobly die. I love this man.

I am not a Catholic but i respected John Paul II. He was one of the world leaders of his time (Regan, Thatcher, etc) to stand up to Communism and end the Cold War. He did many good things for the world. I didn't agree with him about his decision no to support the War in Iraq. However his was the only dissenting opinion I respected. Pope John Paul II was honest and stood up for what he beleived in. All other world leaders had their hands stuck in the cookie jar trying to keep it from being blown up.

Got a free ride by a media that has been giving the Catholic church a lot of bad PR recently (concerning the sex scandals). . .

Is the Holy See's Opposition to the Iraq War based on funds Saddam may have on deposit in the Vatican Bank? Many have stressed Saddam's Monetary Connection to the Governments of France, Germany, and the UN. Is it somehow inconceivable that the Bankers in the Vatican were also Paid Off? In fact, many feel that John Paul 1st was murdered due to his insistence on ending corruption in the Vatican Bank. (look it up)

Among the many legacies of Pope John Paul II were his devout faith and his unwavering stand on issues closest to the Roman Catholic belief. But on a worldly scale, John Paul II's teachings on the evils of Communism were proven correct. John Paul II's reign as Pope was not without controversy. But he was a respected man who stood by his principles regardless of the changing of ideals in an ever-changing world. At least by Roman Catholics, this Pope made an impact on the world scene- and will be sorely missed.

Church Closings - Pedophile Priests - Cover-ups - Financial Corruption - This is the legacy of Pope John Paul II

Great man, the pope, can't understand much of what he's says when he is making public statements, always sounds like he has just drank 20 pints of Newcastle brown ale, but at least he's for peace in the world...good ole Catholis is Johnny........

I have always regarded him as some kind of grandfather figure. Nice enough, but you just don't listen to him. Now I think he should step down because he is so sick! How many more times can he go around the world in his condition? I give him a 3 because, according to a news report, he is said to think that Bush is the Anti-Christ. It shows some kind clear thinking on his part.

not for much longer. see you later, you old goat.

The Vicar of Christ who demands praise and worship, yet Jesus Christ said the least will be the most and the most will be the least in Heaven. The Pope believes and teaches that salvation must be earned, thus it isn't a free gift, as Jesus Christ taught. The Pope says we should pray to Mary and confess our sins to a priest. Jesus Christ says we should pray only to God and confess our sins only to God. The Pope and Jesus Christ - two men, who taught opposite messages. One died and paid the penalty for YOUR sins against God, to reconcile you to God, and the other says you are like a god who can earn god-hood and earn your heavenly role. My faith is in Jesus Christ, not a false prophet. The Bible declares we may know a true prophet of God by the message be preaches (compared to Scripture) and his actions. The Pope embraces Islam and kisses the Koran - a book of hate that instructs its followers to not befriend the Christian or Jew, but lie in wait for ambush. The Pope appearantly doesn't understand that Israel is God's Land, and the Jew is His Beloved People, because of his anti-Semetic action and voice. The Pope does not represent the true message of Salvation, clearly given in the Bible. Salvation is a FREE GIFT, given to all when they accept and believe that we are fallen creatures adn that Jesus Christ paid our penality for sin on the cross and rose to life. The Pope endorses rules, laws, regulations, dogmas, restrictions on salvation. Example - it is a mortal sin for a Catholic to assume (Presumption) they are saved, yet the Bible declares we may have faith, confidence and assurance that God loves us and will remove us from this evil world. The Pope endorses a false message, that embraces the spirit of the anti-Christ. An excellent book on this topic is A Woman Rides The Beast by Dave Hunt. Again, my faith and hope is in Jesus Christ, not a fleshly man who declares he is infalliable and the true voice of Christ. The true voice of Christ is found in the Bible. The Pope - a man who demands people bow to him and kiss his ring. Jesus Christ - God in the flesh who died to save humanity, who washed the feet of his followers, who gave everything for those he loved.

What does he do? I can't understand a word that he speaks. Even when translated it makes no sense. Does he just sit around and stare? Does he do anything?

The Pope is the CEO of the largest corporation on the planet. A corporation that is more corrupt than Enron and more totalitarian than Hitler and Stalin.... Anyone who willingly stays under the Roman Catholic jackboot and continues to worship the Pope and give money to that scheming gang of organized rapists known as the Roman Catholic Church is an idiot.

Time for bed now, Mr.Pope.

He's real. IT would have so much easier for him to go wiht the flow, but when you look at all his stands on issues they are rooted in his belief that our civilization's successes are built ona foundation of viture and faith, and similarly, our civilization's greatest failures are built on the same old vices that have handicapped thse who came before us. He stand as a man of integrity, adn whe he passes away in the not distant future, he wil be seen as a pillar, a modrn day rock uppon which the Church is built, one which can withstand scandal and deceit, and even stood up to the mighty power of Communism and triumphed. I do not like many of the htings Pope John Paul has stood for. I would have liked him to accept birth control, and a more permissive attitude to sexual matters. But my likes are not founded on faith, they are much shapoed by ny own selfish shorteocmings. I am a Ctaholic because it is easy. Truth is not always easy to accept, it does not always support what we'd like. We should all praise the Lord that we have this modern day prophet.

Barely hanging on for deal life. This babbling, drooling geezer needs to stay out of the spotlight. Pretty hard to take a guy seriously when he can't even keep his damn head up. Anyway, the Catholics are a strange breed and I just don't understand why this guy is regarded as God's Messenger. Screw the Vatican.

Ultimate false prophet. Not much is Biblical about his doctrine. If the Pope were across the street, I wouldn't look out the window.

Look, I'm not at all a religious guy, so I completely disagree with a lot of the things that Pope John Paul II stands for as well as with many of the statements he's been recorded as saying. However, he deserves a good rating because I believe that he is an exceptionally benevolent human being. He truly believes with every ounce of his being that he is performing God's work on earth, and he has shown supreme compassion to those who were perhaps undeserving of his forgiveness. Like if someone shot me and I was, for whatever reason, actually allowed into the perpetrator's jail cell, I would probably take a good thick piece of rebar in there with me with which to inflict injury upon my would-be assassin. The Pope gave the man a hug, so he's definitely a better man than I in most of the ways that matter.

Senile old fart. He cares more about eliminating gay marridge than little kids being molested. Also, What's with him hiring Cardinal Law? That guy was an ultimate bigot! And the pope sent missionaries over to China to convert them to Christianity! That's bullshit! My boyfriend is a Chinese Buddhist and I love him to death! Stop trying to enforce religion on the entire world!

This old fart has been brain dead for at least two decades. Maybe it would be a good idea if that criminal conspiracy that aids and abets child molesters known as the Catholic Church should rethink this "Pope for Life" nonsense. Granted, most of the Popes over the past few hundred years have been truly lame at their best, but when they get to be ancient fossils, they're even more incompetent, out of it, and doddering than when they're in their prime. No wonder the Church is currently in the throes of its greatest scandal with a geriatric wank like this at the top of the heap.

False prophet, marian idol worshipper.

Although I'm certainly not Catholic, I appreciate the Pope for refusing to cave in to the pressures of people who want him be more "progressive" in his views. Some of his critics (even in the Catholic church) have accused him of not keeping up with the times. But as my favorite columnist, Joseph Sobran says, to accuse the Pope of not keeping up with the times makes as much sense as accusing Moses of not keeping up with the fatted calf.

a figure head from a bye gone time

Very good man, but he took WAY too much time dealing with the sex scandal. Im from Massachusetts, where 90% of the scandal happened. It was a constant annoyance to hear it all of the time.

HAlf dead!

See what I've said in 20th century leaders. His body is deteriorating out of old age and parkinsons yat he still has a clear mind and still does good deeds.

I especially like his strong anti-war stand and his attempts to influence our Pres.Bush to seek a diplomatic solution. I admire his compassion for the unfortunate people of Iraq who will be the victims of American bombing. His compassion for the people of Iraq is most impressive as there are very few Roman Catholics in Iraq. I dont agree with a lot that he does but re Iraq and his anti-war sentiments, I agree with him.

Will likely be remembered as John Paul the Great. A true hero of the faith, he has refused to bow the pressure of godless pseudo-wisdom. Of course, the ignorant of this world will vilify him without understanding. And once one understands, one can disagree, but not vilify.

Said that the Bible is not to be used as a historical doccument but as a guidebook on how to rule your life/get to heven

Pope John Paul II will be remembered as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th Century. His life has been influenced by the major events of the 20th Century. He was a freedom fighter in his homeland of Poland during the Second World War. During the Cold War, he was fervently anti-communist. The fall of the communist regime in Poland was a result of his moral power of persuasion. Communism was a Godless system which did not allow people to fully realize their maximum potential. The Pope fought against these forces stubbornly and bravely. Although I'm not a practicing Catholic and I disagree personally with a lot of what the Pope says concerning the issues or in Catholic theology as a whole, I have to admire the man for his strong moral fortitude throughout the years. He won't be remembered for being ultra-conservative and the such, he will be remembered for his valor and his bravery that he displayed through his leadership of the church and his life as a whole.

A hard-line reactionary who has done considerably more harm than good. His campaign to eliminate so-called "liberation theology" from the priesthood puts the Church indirectly in league with despotic rulers and "capitalist" slave-masters all over the third world, contradicting Jesus' teachings. His hard-line anti-contraception stance in a time when overpopulation threatens the welfare of humanity and even the viability of earth itself is criminal. Those who have claimed that history will judge him one of our era's most important leaders are probably right -- except that, in my view, it will call him one of the century's most destructive influences. He has failed to acknowledge that the world HAS changed, and policies that were beneficial to society in the time of Christ can be counterproductive in today's reality.

John Paul II possesses a monumental intellect coupled with a profound humility and a deep understanding of suffering and the meaning of life. His great personal sanctity has transformed the world. He has lived his life as another Christ who was a sign of contradict to evils of this world. The fact that people hate him because of his refusal to alter morality to conform to immorality is a ringing testimony to his authority. The Catholic Church is the number one provider of care to AIDS victims the world over. People who believe that Homosexuality, abortion, the use of another human being as property and birth control are modern phenomenon are sadly mistaken. All of these sins afflicted the people of first century AD and it was Church then as now that stood as the sign of contradiction opposing these evil practices then as it does now. Sin and evil are hardy perennials and the truth of Christ is immortal.

You mean he's not dead yet? Damn That fart is older than dust. bwahaha he can't even blow the candles.

How can you not like someone who is so outspoken about world peace. I understand disagreements on some moral issues, but there are few prominent world figures who show as much care for the poor as he does.

Pope John Paul 2 is the best man on the planet...if you can't have Jesus on the earth to hold your hand, you can at least have the Pope.