This is for Jill User and Little Whip, who each in their own way asked a question about Catholics and the Pope. And for Manopeace and Moderateman, who of a different creed, paid the man the highest honor.

First, it is not a sad day.  Many are bereft, but anyone who understands the man, his religion and teachings is not sad for him.  We rejoice that he is with God now.  We are sad for the world as it has lost a great person, and even Jews and Muslims acknowledge his holiness.

Second, he went out with dignity and did not prolong life by being hooked up to machines.  I think that is a very telling lesson and perhaps his last great one.  No, he did not commit euthanasia, but when he knew that the end was nigh, and that the only thing Doctors could do was prolong artificially, he went home to die with friends.  He did not want to prolong it, and from all accounts (and that is all we have), he died in peace with himself and his actions.

So for Jill, we are not sad for him, some of us are sad for ourselves.  But we will soon see that a great man went out his way.  I am not sad.  I mourn for his loss to mankind, but not for the man as he did more than 10 men while he was here.

And for Little Whip.  You see?  He did decide!  No one decided for him.  And I doubt anyone could have anyway. It was not our place to let him go.  It was his place to finally decide he had done enough.

And Finally for Manopeace and Moderateman, your thoughts and deeds reflect very well on the man and the position.  It shows that while we may not have the same creed, we do have the same God.  And he loves us all the same.  Thank you both for your honoration of the greatest Pope in my lifetime.

He will be a very hard act to follow!