There can be no doubt that the late pope has been one of the most influential voice of Christianity for a long time! People that met him were touched by his charisma. He was loved all over the world in spite of the unpopular viewpoints he boldly proclaimed.

Dr. Billy Graham, a guest on CNN’s Larry King Live show on Saturday, April 2nd, spoke about the life of Pope John Paul II saying he "was the most influential voice for morality and peace in the world in the last 100 years."

In this partial transcript of Larry’s show, provided by Assist News, Dr. Graham shared his feelings on the passing of the pontiff earlier that day. "I have a very strange feeling of loss," he said, "I almost feel as though one of my family members has gone. I loved him very much and had the opportunity of discussing so many things with him. And we wrote each other several times during the years."

When asked by King if Dr. Graham thought the Pope was with God now, Graham replied, "I think he’s with the Lord, because he believed. He believed in the Cross. That was his focus throughout his ministry, the Cross, no matter if you were talking to him from personal issues or an ethical problem, he felt that there was the answer to all of our problems — the cross and the resurrection. And he was a strong believer."

A True Saint

By Rich Joyner

The passing of Pope John Paul II is a major event because we have all lost one of the most remarkable leaders of our time. I am not a papist and do not believe that any man on earth should be called "the head of the church," which is the rightful place of Christ alone. However, I do not doubt that John Paul II was a man of God that all Christians should be thankful for and should rightly mourn. It was not his title but his character that caused him to transcend the Roman Catholic Church and become a leader who blessed and advanced the whole church, and, indeed, the cause of Christianity itself. He was one of the greatest leaders of our time, and will be sorely missed.

I have said for years that John Paul II prophetically pulled the string that began the unraveling of Communism. He stood for freedom and human dignity with a resolve like few others. He also stood for life, without compromise, against the atrocity of abortion. Also, in one of his very last statements, he called on America to count as dear the life of Terri Schiavo.

Pope John Paul II Clung to the Cross

John Paul II also took the remarkable and unprecedented step of apologizing for the Catholic Church’s persecution of Protestants and Jews, as well as its historic role in oppressing other people groups. This was done with unquestioned sincerity, as it could have caused major political and legal problems for the church, but he did it because it was true and the right thing to do. Instead of opening the door to problems, this raised the world’s esteem for and trust in John Paul II, the Catholic Church, and, indeed, even Christianity itself.

Pope John Paul loved the Holy Spirit, and in an article which we printed in our Morning Star Journal, he encouraged all Catholics to seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was during his tenure that more than 100 million Catholics became Charismatics and were born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Pope John Paul II clung to the cross and tried to pray without ceasing.

Reaching Across the Barriers

I have been accused of being a papist and of being anti-Catholic. I am neither. I have fundamental problems with some Catholic doctrines, which I see as being in clear and basic conflict with Scriptures, but this is because I am for my Catholic brothers and sisters, not against them. I have Catholic friends whose intimacy with Christ I envy. I do not hesitate to disagree with them on certain doctrines and practices, but I also love them dearly and have been richly blessed by their friendship and faith in the Lord. I loved and admired Pope John Paul II. He was one of the greatest men of God of our time.

If you feel the same way, consider honoring him by reaching across some barriers the way that he did. Send condolences to the Catholic Churches in your area for the loss of their shepherd, while expressing appreciation for all that he did for the whole church, and indeed the world.