With the news of the death of Pope John Paul II, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) joins with Christians of all traditions throughout the world who now turn to God, the God of all comfort, in the most solemn prayer and reflection. A life and ministry of epochal significance in modern Christianity has drawn to its earthly close. Recent years of increasing physical trial and suffering have been mercifully concluded, borne by the grace of him who now says to us anew "I am the resurrection and the life." We in CEC particularly remember our brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church in their especial sense of loss. Yet we also join with theirs our prayers of gratitude for all the grace which was experienced through the life and witness of John Paul II.

For the churches and peoples of Europe John Paul II was a figure of special significance. As a son of Poland he bore in his own life so much of the most tragic experience of Europe in the twentieth century brought by war and oppression, first under Nazi occupation and then under communist totalitarianism. Equally, under these experiences he embodied the finest spirit of European Christianity in refusing to compromise either his faith or his humanity. As a leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland it was he who did so much to inspire the cause of freedom and human rights both in his native country and further afield in Eastern Europe. His place in the history of change in Europe during the last quarter of the twentieth century is secure. So too is his record during his long pontificate, of advocating the cause of greater European unity, the building of a "common European house" in which the Christianity of both east and west has to share.

No aspect of his witness was more widely appreciated among all Christians and people of goodwill than his continual call for peace in the world. It was a call underlined by the way he spent himself in travelling so widely, and by his capacity to communicate his convictions in a remarkably personal way even in the largest public gatherings and to young people especially.

The years of John Paul II's pontificate saw the churches of Europe journeying more closely together at many levels. We in CEC have rejoiced in our increasing co-operation with the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) which we know could not have happened without the Pope's encouragement. We cherish the recollections of being welcomed as fraternal delegates at the Special Synods of European Bishops in Rome, 1991 and 1999, during which our representatives were personally received and entertained by His Holiness. On these occasions, and when the members of the CEC-CCEE Joint Committee were received by him in Rome in 1998, we were impressed by the sincerity of his welcome, his spirituality expressed in friendship, and his affirmation that there is no alternative to the ecumenical journey.

These and other examples of his encouragement to building bridges between the Roman Catholic and other Churches have been important signs of hope to us, notwithstanding the continuance of deep theological differences, the emergence of new problems and the experiencing of some frustrations on that ecumenical journey in recent years. Hope, as the Apostle Paul says, does not disappoint us.

A time such as this naturally mingles together an immediate sense of loss and uncertainty with memory and reflection on the past. A monumental figure in our landscape is no more. But it is also a time of looking in faith and hope to the God of all ages, whose grace is unbounded and whose kingdom is to come. Our prayers for the Roman Catholic Church embrace especially those to whom will now, under God, be entrusted the solemn charge of electing the successor to Pope John Paul II. They will surely know that they are accompanied in thought and prayer by all Christians who hope for "the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace" to be strengthened in our time. To that end, above all, may they know the presence, power and leading of the Holy Spirit as they seek to be of one mind in making this choice of such moment for their own Church, for the hopes of all Christians, and for the peace and welfare of all humankind.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, evermore.

Rev. Dr Keith Clements
General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches

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The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd Rowan Williams, has paid a warm tribute to the life and ministry of Pope John Paul II, describing his last days as a 'lived sermon' for Eastertide about facing death with honesty and courage.

In a statement delivered in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, visited by Pope John Paul in 1982, Archbishop Williams said that the Pope's life had been a demonstration of faith lived out. He praised the way in which the Pope had approached his own death with courage and acceptance.

"I think in these past few days, we've seen an extraordinary 'lived sermon' for Eastertide, about facing death with honesty and courage; facing death in the hope of a relationship which is not broken by death but continues beyond it. Pope John Paul showed his character in the way in which he met his death; clearly frustrated, clearly suffering and yet
at every point accepting; facing his frailties and remaining courageous and hopeful. I feel there's a certain appropriateness about the fact that he died within the Easter season - a time of the Church's year which meant so much to him. It has been a season in which he was able to give a message to the whole of the Christian world, and in fact to the whole human world, that won't be readily forgotten."

He added that the Pope's early experiences under Nazism and Communism greatly strengthened the Papacy when he came into office:

"Because he was a man who had lived through the toughest and most testing times of the modern age, Pope John Paul II brought with him a very particular authority to his office. He 'd shown that both as an opponent both of Nazism and Soviet Communism he was fully aware of the fact that the Church has to be something different; that it has to offer different values and different hopes to the society around it."

Dr Williams paid tribute to the Pope's willingness to acknowledge the failures of the church:
"He faced the reality of the Christian church's complicity with anti-Semitism. This showed itself in the way in which he admitted the Church's failures in the 1930s, visited the Roman Synagogue and in Jerusalem made his peace at the Western Wall. In doing this he showed something fundamental, something distinctive about being a Christian
which is of huge authority.
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April 2, 2005
World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR)

The World Sikh Council - America Region (WSC-AR), on behalf of the United States Sikh community, expresses it condolences on the death of Pope John Paul II. The Pope dedicated his life to promoting peace with justice, and increased inter-religious dialogue among the religions of the world.

Mr. Amolak Singh, Chairperson of WSC-AR remarked, "Pope John Paul II was a beacon of hope and joy for millions of Catholics and other people of faith in the world. He will continue to be a source of inspiration for generations to come."

Dr. Anahat Kaur, Vice-Chairperson of WSC-AR added, "Pope John Paul II was one of the world's leading champions for interfaith understanding. He brought together religious leaders from across the world to commit themselves to peace and justice. With his vision and dedication, the day when people of faith will view people of other faiths as being partners in faith rather than in competition with each other to save souls, is not far."

The WSC-AR reaches out in prayer to the Roman Catholic community across the world in this hour of grief and expresses its deepest condolences to the Vatican on the passing away of this great soul.

The WSC-AR is a representative and elected body of Sikh Gurdwaras and institutions in the United States. Its members include 36 Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) and other Sikh institutions across the nation.

Statement of the LWF General Secretary on the Death of Pope John Paul II

GENEVA, 2 April 2005 (LWI) * The death of Pope John Paul II marks the end not only of a truly remarkable human life but also of a highly significant pontificate of the Roman Catholic Church at a crucial stage of human history.

John Paul II was elected pope at a time when the Communist systems of Eastern Europe were still firmly in place. His role in the changes that would lift the Iron Curtain and open up Europe's borders remains a significant contribution to the region's and global history.

The conservative stance of John Paul II has raised questions about this pope's dedication to the ecumenical movement. It must be recognized, however, that the Roman Catholic Church throughout his pontificate has contributed substantially to major ecumenical processes, particularly to the network of bilateral doctrinal dialogues, of which the Roman Catholic Church has been a strong advocate since the Second Vatican Council.

Pope John Paul II will be remembered for his strong focus on personal relationships and for his deep spirituality in the exercise of daunting responsibilities. In his constant search for the most appropriate ways for the Roman pontiff to serve the unity of the church, John Paul II, in his encyclical "Ut Unum Sint," invited bishops from different Christian traditions worldwide to participate in discussing how the papacy could best fulfill the ministry of Christian unity. While for many churches the very institution of the papacy lies beyond what they could adopt for themselves, many Christians would at the same time recognize that John Paul II truly exemplified a pastoral ministry of unity.

For the Lutheran World Federation, which has been in international theological dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church since 1967, the bilateral relations between our worldwide church bodies have continued to develop fruitfully in the course of John Paul II's pontificate. The achievement of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification," and its signing celebration in Augsburg, Germany on 31 October 1999, represent a milestone in this relationship. The Joint Declaration expresses agreement in basic truths pertaining to the biblical doctrine of justification, which was a central area of contention at the time of the Reformation. It represents a significant ecumenical breakthrough reaching beyond the bilateral relationship of the signing partners directly involved.

At the present stage of the ecumenical movement, it is not easy to see how substantial further progress can be achieved globally and how communion relations can be established between the Roman Catholic Church and other churches. In this area new initiatives from the side of the Roman Catholic Church will be required in the future.

From the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II was deeply involved with issues of social justice, and has actively promoted the free and common exercise of religious faith as a fundamental human right. As the enormous social challenges of globalization have become increasingly clear, John Paul II has appropriately warned the world of the dangerous consequences of liberal market forces.

The pontificate of John Paul II has been one of relentless search for ways in which the Roman Catholic Church, in different regions of the world, could help to alleviate suffering from political and economic oppression, from racial and social discrimination, and from poverty, hunger and illness. He has never shunned away from difficult and high-risk challenges, often against the advice of his entourage. Until the last days of his life, he personally involved himself in attempts to resolve conflicts especially where religious motives were involved. Indeed, the pope has voiced great concern about current global tensions, portrayed by some as conflict between the Muslim-Arab world and the Christian West.

Recognizing the potential for peace in a faith-based approach, John Paul II was able to bring together, in ways no one else has managed, different religious leaders in common reflection and prayerful commitment to the cause of peace, focusing openly on the world's excruciating suffering as a result of wars and countless conflicts.

His travels took him to many corners of the world, celebrating mass publicly at altars erected in the midst of social and political complexities. The eucharistic message of reconciliation in Christ was made explicit in striking ways, although only Roman Catholics were invited to partake of the Eucharist as such.

The ecumenical difficulties related to eucharistic fellowship remain an urgent matter in the search for Christian unity, to which churches are called to focus their attention to enable courageous steps of faith in the years to come.

In connection with the turn from the Second to the Third Millennium, Pope John Paul II encouraged all Christian churches to seek repentance and conversion in the face of all shortcomings, so as to enter the new millennium reconciled and strengthened by Christ. The Day of Prayer for Pardon for the Sins of Sons and Daughters of the Church was a striking event of the Jubilee Year, where John Paul II provided spiritual guidance to contrition under the Cross of Christ.

John Paul II leaves a legacy of the most traveled pope in history until now. As St Paul was unable to fulfill his fourth missionary journey to Spain, John Paul II was also unable to complete highly significant travels he had hoped to accomplish. But his life was in a genuine sense an arduous pilgrimage, with enormous physical and spiritual demands. It is well known he daily concentrated in prayer for hours, at home or on travel, seeking the mind of God. In this way also, John Paul II set an example for persons in all positions of spiritual leadership and indeed for leaders and believers in all areas of life.

May the Holy Spirit use the legacy of Pope John Paul II in accordance with the divine purpose.

The Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko
General Secretary

Geneva
2 April 2005

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 66 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

LWF Hails a "Truly Remarkable Human Life," and "Highly Significant Pontificate"

GENEVA, 2 April 2005 (LWI) * The death of Pope John Paul II today, marks the end not only of a truly remarkable human life but also of a highly significant pontificate of the Roman Catholic Church at a crucial stage of human history. This is the message contained in a statement of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) released today, following the pope's death this evening.

Pope John Paul II died at 21.37 hours today, aged 84 in his private apartment following heart and kidneys' failure after a urinary tract infection, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls announced in a written statement. Despite his precarious health, the pope had decided to remain in his residence at the Vatican rather than return to Gemelli hospital in Rome, where he had been hospitalized twice since February.

In his statement, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, recognizes that the Roman Catholic during the pontificate of John Paul II, "contributed substantially to major ecumenical processes, particularly to the network of bilateral doctrinal dialogues," of which it has been a strong advocate since the Second Vatican Council.

Bilateral relations between the LWF and Roman Catholic Church "have continued to develop fruitfully," in the course of John Paul II's pontificate, Noko says. He singles out the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) signed between both worldwide church bodies on 31 October 1999 in Augsburg, Germany, as a milestone in this relationship. The JDDJ, Noko notes, "represents a significant ecumenical breakthrough reaching beyond the bilateral relationship of the signing partners directly involved."

Noko also lauds the pope's strong focus on personal relationships, his deep spirituality in the exercise of overwhelming responsibilities, and his constant search for the most appropriate ways for the Roman pontiff to serve the unity of the church. He cites the encyclical "Ut Unum Sint," in which John Paul II invited bishops from different Christian traditions worldwide to participate in discussing how the papacy could best fulfill the ministry of Christian unity.

Whereas for many churches the papacy lies beyond what they could adopt for themselves, many Christians would at the same time recognize that this pope truly exemplified a pastoral ministry of unity, Noko says.

On the pope's travels to different parts of the world, "the eucharistic message of reconciliation in Christ was made explicit in striking ways," during public celebration of mass at altars erected in the midst of social and political complexities, although only Roman Catholics could partake of the Eucharist as such. Noko says the ecumenical difficulties related to eucharistic fellowship remain an urgent matter for the churches in the search for Christian unity.

The LWF General Secretary pays tribute to John Paul II for recognizing the potential for peace in a faith-based approach. The pope was able, in unique ways, to bring together different religious leaders in common reflection and prayerful commitment to the cause of peace all over the world, Noko says.

The LWF General Secretary says this pope will also be remembered for his deep and active involvement in issues of social justice, and the promotion of "the free and common exercise of religious faith as a fundamental human right." His pontificate "has been one of relentless search for ways in which the Roman Catholic Church could help to alleviate suffering from political and economic oppression, from racial and social discrimination, and from poverty, hunger and illness," worldwide.

May the Holy Spirit use the legacy of Pope John Paul II in accordance with the divine purpose, Noko concludes.

Karol Jozef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his election to the papacy 16 October 1978, was born on 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, near Krakow, southern Poland. He was ordained as a priest in 1946, and was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in 1958. He was nominated Archbishop of Krakow in 1964, and made Cardinal in 1967. As head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope for more than 450 years, was the spiritual leader of over one billion Christians.

Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko
General Secretary

Geneva
2 April 2005

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 66 million Christians. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]