A Pope dies	Archive
Among the many homeless in Rome was a man, who at some time worked as a priest and who had now become homeless himself. When Pope John Paul II heard about this man, he invited him for lunch in the Vatican. The man was an alcoholic, embittered and in a deplorable state. The situation is so unusual that it is difficult to imagine, but It must have been quite a daunting experience for this man to be the guest in the splendour of the Vatican. Just before they started lunch, the pope asked the man if he would be so kind as to hear his confession. The man will not have immediately understood what the pope meant and when he did, he was perplexed. ‘You are a priest, aren’t you’, said the pope and so it happened that the man heard the pope’s confession. Stories about public figures can be exaggerated, especially at crucial times, but no matter how much of this story is true or not, it gives us a taste of what faith and belief is about. Reconciliation and forgiveness. These two are very much part of our religion, but they are probably the most difficult issues to deal with. The events surrounding the death of pope John Paul II makes even the unbeliever scratch his head. Millions of people who flock into Rome to catch a glimpse of the body lying in state or to attend the funeral and pay their respects. A royal wedding is postponed and many heads of state are present at the funeral of a man, who left his mark in history. Probably most impressive of all was the presence of the many leaders of different religions. The Pope's tireless efforts for peace and reconciliation shine through all those differences of interpretation and they make us think of what God wants from us. His pontificate was not without criticism and nobody would try to condone every decision he made in his life. His attempts, however, to make this world a more peaceful place, will not go unnoticed. The events of the pope’s death and the effect it had on people, reminded me of 11th September, where the world was united in indignation and shock. This time people were brought together because one man made it abundantly clear that efforts for peace and reconciliation can equally unite the globe and we can only hope that the next pope will continue these efforts, however difficult it may be to follow such an example. Alja Tollefsen

A Pope dies

Archive

Among the many homeless in Rome was a man, who at some time worked as a priest and who had now become homeless himself. When Pope John Paul II heard about this man, he invited him for lunch in the Vatican. The man was an alcoholic, embittered and in a deplorable state.

The situation is so unusual that it is difficult to imagine, but It must have been quite a daunting experience for this man to be the guest in the splendour of the Vatican.

Just before they started lunch, the pope asked the man if he would be so kind as to hear his confession. The man will not have immediately understood what the pope meant and when he did, he was perplexed. ‘You are a priest, aren’t you’, said the pope and so it happened that the man heard the pope’s confession.

Stories about public figures can be exaggerated, especially at crucial times, but no matter how much of this story is true or not, it gives us a taste of what faith and belief is about. Reconciliation and forgiveness. These two are very much part of our religion, but they are probably the most difficult issues to deal with.

The events surrounding the death of pope John Paul II makes even the unbeliever scratch his head. Millions of people who flock into Rome to catch a glimpse of the body lying in state or to attend the funeral and pay their respects. A royal wedding is postponed and many heads of state are present at the funeral of a man, who left his mark in history.

Probably most impressive of all was the presence of the many leaders of different religions.

The Pope's tireless efforts for peace and reconciliation shine through all those differences of interpretation and they make us think of what God wants from us.

His pontificate was not without criticism and nobody would try to condone every decision he made in his life. His attempts, however, to make this world a more peaceful place, will not go unnoticed.

The events of the pope’s death and the effect it had on people, reminded me of 11th September, where the world was united in indignation and shock. This time people were brought together because one man made it abundantly clear that efforts for peace and reconciliation can equally unite the globe and we can only hope that the next pope will continue these efforts, however difficult it may be to follow such an example.

Alja Tollefsen