Pope John Paul

A friend described the articles about the Pope's legacy as rewriting history. While he is right, I think, in the details, the outpouring of grief and affection are not about what he did but about the odd role he played in our odd era.

In fact he was a tough leader who brooked little disagreement among the faithful.

But he had charisma. His popemobile appeared all over the world and people, most of whom likely had no idea what he thought or did, flocked to him they way we do to rock stars. Because that is what he was. His persona, the image he projected, standing tall and taking a would be asassain's bullet, surviving it and then going to the prison were the shooter was held to embrace and forgive him. Who cared what such a man did or believed?

In our media age we might want to be more cautious about whom we embrace. I, too, have been caught up in the world's grief over the death of the Pope. And while that unites me with others of my species, it does not change my wanting to hold out for leaders who trust ordinary people even when they challenge the authority of ancient institutions. We have expressed excitement at the way popular uprisings have overturned governments in countries of the former Soviet Union who have remained under the iron fist of today's Russia. The human spirit cries out for religious freedom as well.

While joining the sorrow for the loss of a familiar face on the world scene, I pray for a new Pope who believes the breath of God's holy Spirit will lead us from institutional rigidity to a new day of openness and freedom.