What a sad, sad old man. Why people admire him for sitting on a chair and nodding. Then saying something that is usually common sense is beyond me.

There are few people living today who will be remembered for millenia to come, but Pope John Paul II is one of them. A man that endured the brutality of the Nazis and the communists, and has used his position to rail against tyranny all over the world and give hope to the hopeless. It's sad that many in the U.S. have such negative feelings toward him because he's opposed to abortion, etc.

Five stars is appropriate because John Paul II is one of the greatest leaders of the 21st Century. Anyone who is familiar with his enormous impact on both Polish and Roman Catholic history would know that.It was largely because of his involvement that the Berlin Wall came down. I'm surprised that Rate-it-All would continue to post some of the vulgar and bigoted comments of other participants in this section.It's truly a disgrace that a great Pope like John Paul II should have to endure such calumnies from swine like them.

I'm not a Catholic, so my opinion is less informed than many may be. I do agree with CastleBee that this pope has a very impressive background of courage and integrity, has laudable accomplishments. It seems to me that there are a number of issues that are currently critical to the Catholic church, issues that he could handle with less reliance on the past and the traditional infallibility of the papacy -- and more consideration to the fact that the world does move forward and change. At the same time, though, because he is not my own spiritual leader, I feel it is more appropriate for his own followers to suggest that direction. When I read Roswellfan's comment, I do have one question. If the Pope, leader of millions of Catholics around the world, does not have the right to comment on world issues, should we assume that no other world leaders have a right to comment either? Many world leaders regularly comment on and preach about the internal activities of other countries. In many cases, world opinion has helped to accelerate change, improvements in human rights. But who decides who has the right to comment?

Pope John Paul should mind his own business. He shouldn't lecture Israel on handling terrorists or Bush on funding stem cell research. This so-called leader should focus on the messy church scandals. Priests are sexually abusing nuns and boys. And the Bishops are covering their crimes. The Pope needs to get a reality check fast!!!

I dislike him less than oodie.

worse than satan. the pope has helped kill like bin laden and george bush have

While I do disagree with him at times, I still think he's a wonderful leader of the Catholic Church.

Doesn't even think about all the people he could help by promoting stem cell research. Plows right on ahead and tells Bushbaby it's evil. I thought the Pope was supposed to preach love. Well, by telling Bushbaby that stem cell research was evil, he turned his back on thousands of suffering people who need help! As well as delivering a mental stab in the back to gays and lesbians worldwide by blessing a bunch of criminals and then denouncing publicly some peaceful gay/lesbian demonstrators. Thanks a lot, John Paul. THANKS FOR NOTHING!!!

Pope John Paul II has been both a courageous freedom fighter (during WWII) and has served as a strong, honest, hard-working leader of the Catholic Church. Coming from a different background, I probably don't agree with him on every topic concerning Christianity or issues like birth control, but I still like and respect him very much. I especially appreciate his determination to take a conservative stand on certain moral issues in the face of growing pressure to give up and accept what is popular as opposed to what he feels is right. We are all free to accept or reject his opinions but the fact that he sticks by them really says something for his backbone, which makes him a much-needed anchor in increasingly stormy times.