Papam Joannem Paulum Secundum

by George L. Moneo

April 1, 2005

John Paul II has been pope for over half of my lifetime. While I cannot claim to be a practicing Catholic, nevertheless, I consider myself a “traditional” one, Latin Mass and all. I have had my differences with the Church—over Vatican II and its sordid influence on the Church since its adoption and over the non-compliance with Our Lady's request at Fatima that Russia be consecrated—but I have always admired the Pontiff for his staunch opposition to Communism. His methods were not my methods, but they succeeded nonetheless in bringing about great and positive change.

In Poland in the 1940s and beyond, he was a victim of “collectivism”—in its two-headed incarnation, Nazism and Communism. Karol Wojtyla knew who the monsters were and did everything in his power to oppose them. John Paul II, along with those other Everests of statesmanship, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, did more to hasten the USSR's demise than anybody else.

Communism, Nazism and fascism aren't dead by a long shot. Anybody reading the daily news will surely know that there are still those who stupidly, blindly, and happily embrace those wonderful utopian ideals that were responsible for over 100 million deaths in the last century. But it is heartening to know that maybe—just maybe—there are still men and women who walk in this world who have the courage and the steadfastness of Karol Wojtyla, and that they will bring us to a bright day without the specter of communism—or any other collectivist philosophy.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.