Took up modern causes with vigor while keeping the Catholic Church in the middle ages.

The papacy is a continuum and the death of one and ascension of the next, while significant to the Roman Catholic community, does not usually cause great changes in the rest of the world.

I am not a Catholic, but I was very affected by John Paul's death. I didn't agree with him on everything, but he was so earnest and so dynamic. I admired him greatly.

Look at who replaced him...seig heil!!!

The Pope's death is an important event, and even though it dominated media coverage after it ocurred, its greatest effects may not be seen for some time. However, the transition from one leader to another, especially after such a long papacy as John Paul II's, will greatly influence the Catholic Church and the world. Whether or not a person follows Catholicism or even respects it, it is difficult to argue that this organization does not have tremendous global influence.

Hardly a suprise-he looked like he was going to die years ago.What a dissapointing choice for his sucessor.

This was kind of eerie for me because my Dad died the exact same day. And both of them lived from 1920 to 2005.

It's still a bit odd seeing Pope Benedict XVI, like watching someone play the pope in a movie. To think, there were people well into their 20s that had never seen the election of a pope. I was pretty young myself the last time it had happened.

It's not everyday when a highly respected religious leader passes on.