... it's really a sad news, even for non-catholic countries. This pope was a great man and he changed the course of the history. He's also an example for mankind.

I quite agree with you. This Pope has been a "new man". Let's live apart the factor of "'santità" : he has done a lot to group people of any sort of nationality and religion. Of course he has been a lot criisised for his non acceptance for abortion. For adulterian. But frankly what do they (the accusators) do expect from a pope?. The Pope represents a line of thinking which is not at all connected with the "libre pensée". From a religious point of view we can't expect him to accept other values than his : to accept abortion and adulterian. This is a very simple argument but it is what I feel. I personnaly am catholic non "'pratiquant". but my faith in God immense. Any sort of God. I just have faith into my heart. A superb presence.

I'm fed up with the media trying to make everyone feel emotions that they don't feel for the Pope! He's the head of the Catholic church, so I can't see what it has to do with anyone other than Catholics. I know it is a very rich and powerful organisation, but he didn't have any authority in the UK over anyone. He may be an example for the rest of us in terms of a devotional life of faith, but let's not forget that he was very anti-abortion and would not accept homosexuality which isn't acceptable in this day and age for a leader of any faith. The Catholic church really is going back in time instead of moving forwards.

... I don't myself agree with everything. I just wanted to focus on his role during "cold war". That's important for United Kingdom, too.

how did he change the course of history and why should people other than Catholics be bothered?

... specially in Poland which was the "weak" part of the chain. A book published in 1996 (co-writed by Carl Bernstein, one of the journalist who revealed the Watergate scandal) explained the secret alliance between John Paul II and Ronald Reagan to support the dissidents in Eastern Europe (specially Solidarnösc) . The murder attempt against the Pope in 1981 was, of course, guided from Moscow, where the soviet power had good reasons to fear a such prestigious support. And after the fall of the communism, Mikhail Gorbatchow himself said that "without John Paul II, nothing could be possible".

Sorry to sound mean in my last post!
That's really interesting, I didn't know any of it before. I didn't realise he was so political.
But I still don't see why the whole world should be in mourning, according to the papers

... it's something explainable, and also in Latin America. In Germany, people were more tiedous, in despite of a quite large media coverage (I was there last week-end) and I guess that in Great Britain, there's less interest. But you have also the action of John Paul II in Middle East, his diplomacy attempt between Palestinian and Israel, the reconciliation with Jewish People... I was surprised to discover that in Egypt, they decreted a national mourning !

maybe we are the odd ones out then!