The Pope

The Advertiser: Key cardinal arrives in Rome : "From correspondents in Vatican City"

It has struck me today that this particular Pope has got into all our hearts one way or another. Some chastise him for being the Pope and upholding what everyone knows to be the public views of a Pope representing the Catholic church. The party line. It should not surprise us. Nor should it surprise us that a frail and old Pope is dying. Yet, it is quite clear to me today that we are all touched by him in some way. Young and old are amazed with his capacity to carry on as best he can inspite of great difficulties physically. Ever since he had Parkinson's we have seen him live with it but never once avoid his duty . I am not Catholic. I have never bothered about the Pope , but John -Paul has been a Pope who has constantly cared and constantly fought for the weak, the frail, the defenceless. He has never been frightened to speak out and to offer a way of solving some of the world's problems. Like Nelson Mandela , he has become an inspiration to us.This has been the talk of the town today because it's unusual that even the younger people around Adelaide seem to know who he is and seem to think he has cared for people. Some carry on with the view he's old and sick and should die and let someone else be the Pope. I always think that view tells me more about he speaker than the person about whom they are speaking. He has earned his wings. He has wanted world peace and he has wanted us to care. That to me is a pretty special human being.