Former Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, better known to the world as Pope John Paul II, has passed away. Now I am not a very religious person, I don’t attend church other than for weddings or funerals, and the only way one would know I am even Christian is from the Cross I wear or the one that hangs in my truck, but even I feel the loss. Karol Wojtyla “was elevated to the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978” thus becoming Pope John Paul II, and his reign was marked with compassion and service to the world. John Paul II has been the Pope my entire life, and though I am sure others feel this great loss more than I, yet, even I feel that something great has come to an end. This article over on MSNBC tells of the sorrowful news, and there are many others as well (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

As the days go on there will be even more news, as all eyes turn to Rome as the College of Cardinals gather to elect a new Pope. This is a process that will begin 15 to 20 days after the death of the Pope. I found this article that describes the process and those involved in the election of a new Pope. Although John Paul II was a great leader, the Catholic Church is not as strong as it could be, and as such times may be hard in the near future. With any luck the process for electing a new Pope will not be a long one. However, even in death John Paul II will have an influence as to who his successor will be, and for a number of reasons:

John Paul II, appointed all but three of the 117 voting cardinals who will gather beneath the frescoed ceiling of the Sistine Chapel to choose his successor.
When they write the names of candidates by hand on rectangular cards for the balloting, it will be under rules that John Paul set nearly a decade ago.
John Paul’s influence was so strong in every corner of the church that almost everyone in the emerging set of papabili — men who could be pope — shares his basic views.

Needless to say, over the course of the next month, and until a new Pope is elected, the news will undoubtedly be focusing on the events unfolding in Rome.

Rest In Peace
Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II
May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005