The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Tall leader

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Wednesday, Apr 06, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Tall leader

Sir, — In the demise of Pope John Paul II, the world has lost a tall leader and statesman who worked throughout his life for human dignity and peace. His efforts to promote peace and harmony in the post-Cold War period were significant. He reached out beyond the Church and was an inspiration to the people of different faiths and religions across the world. He was the first Pope to pray in a synagogue in Rome, to enter a mosque in Damascus, Syria, and to preside over a meeting of major religions.

K. Murlidar,
Chennai

Sir, — John Paul II clung fiercely to traditional ways in a world that sometimes appeared to have little use for old-fashioned values. Yet he seized on modern means to extend his reach way beyond the Vatican, to every corner of the globe where he felt he could help. He showed the world the importance of the most significant Christian teaching, forgiveness. And that is why thousands stood outside St. Peter's Square all night maintaining candle vigil.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala

Sir, — To the Aboriginal children of Australia, called `the stolen generation,' the Pope extended only an email apology. The infamous Goan Inquisition carried out by the Roman Catholic Church for 250 years victimised Hindus, Parsis, Muslims, Jains, Syrian Christians, and Jews. The victims did not see the Pope's heart melt for them as it did for Greek Orthodox Christians, Muslims of Palestine, and Jews of Israel. The Pope repeatedly expressed his desire to travel to Russia and preach the Gospel. But the Russian Orthodox Church, recalling centuries of conflict between Orthodoxy and Catholicism since the Great Schism of 1054, refused to invite him to Russia. Will the next Pope heal the centuries-old wounds in India and Russia?

Laura Kelly,
Marieheim, Finland

Sir, — Though Pope John Paul II was against communism, he was equally opposed to the excesses of capitalism. He compared the Americans to the rich man "hypnotised by materialism" who did not care for the poor Lazarus, the third world countries, languishing at his gate. But his stance on contraceptives, homosexuality, and reproductive rights of women was not in keeping with the scientific thinking of the times.

R. Venkatesan Iyengar,
Hyderabad

Sir, — I watched the file picture on television of the Pope meeting his would-be assassin in the prison cell. He was seen putting his hand around the man and gifting him a Bible. That Mehmet Ali Agca wants to attend the Pope's funeral speaks volumes to the extent to which he endeared himself to the peoples of the world, transcending barriers of race, nationality, caste, and religion. As for the three-day mourning declared by the Government of India, showing respect to a departed international leader is not wrong.

P.V.D. Paul,
Chennai

Sir, — With all due respects to Pope John Paul II, one would like to know if the Government would declare state mourning for the heads of all religions of the land.

K. Kishore Kumar,
Secunderabad

Sir, — The three-day mourning has more to do with respect for the Pope in formal terms as head of the Vatican, with which India has diplomatic relations. Mourning has been declared even by countries opposed to the Vatican's views. Whether this gesture will be applicable to other religious leaders is irrelevant.

Sham Sankar,
Thiruvananthapuram

Sir, — The editorial, "A complex papacy" (April 4) says: "But to note only these [controversial] aspects would be to miss the complexities and positive surprises of the papacy of John Paul II." Maybe, The Hindu could treat the BJP with the objectivity extended to Pope John Paul?

Kalyan Sundaram,
Mississauga, Ontario

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