Local religious heads mourn Pope’s passing

WHILE Catholics around the world continue to mourn the passing last Saturday of their spiritual leader — Pope John Paul II — local religious leaders from the various denominations also expressed their sorrow and reflected on the life and times of the Pontiff. Various local religious leaders remember Pope John Paul II as a man of peace, youthful vibrancy, and a world father-figure.

President of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) Rev Cyril Paul said Roman Catholics had lost their shepherd but the world lost “a friend and spiritual giant,” who dedicated his entire Papal life to world peace, healing and reconciliation. Rev Paul said the Pope was viewed as a friend by world leaders and in his own way tried to help the world as a family. “We all felt safer knowing he was around as a world father-figure,” Paul said. He added that what helped the Papacy was the Pope’s tremendous energy, conviction, courage and scholarship. “The world will be poorer now that he is no longer here, but richer because he was here,” Paul said.

Archbishop Barbara Burke, of the Spiritual Baptist faith, extended condolences from the Spiritual Shouter Baptist community. She also asked Catholics to have hope and endurance. “We all must keep praying.” Burke said the Pope was a man who set high standards and interacted with all spectrums of society. “He was a great leader and a man of peace.” She said his death was a transportation from one place to another. “He had a happy, beautiful ending and he was transported by angels to his Father in heaven,” Archbishop Burke said.

Brother Noble Khan told Newsday the Pope was a great soul and made a significant contribution to world peace. “At the time of his becoming Pope, the world had passed through many tremors as far as wars and great upheavals. He was always there for the world in seeking out the peaceful means of resolution.” Khan said even with the invasion of Iraq two years ago, the Pope stressed the need for another resolution instead of armed intervention.

“He was loved and highly respected throughout.” Khan fondly recalled the Pope’s visit in 1985, describing it as a “great experience.” He extended condolences to the Catholic community with the wish that prayer and perseverance helped them deal with the loss that was not only felt by Catholics. “Each of us will feel personal about it.” Brother Stephen Burris of the B’ahai faith, said the Pope would be admired for his longevity (John Paul’s Papacy was the third longest) and the legacy he left behind may be a challenge for whom ever succeeds him.

Burris said the church had a history of transitions and the world would expect things to settle and business to continue as usual. “The work of the church will go on and there will be challenges for change. How his successor responds to these challenges may be different. it will all depend on that person’s core theology and what his vision for the church is in the future.”