The Pope, the Poet, and Mankind

WASHINGTON TIMES, Oct. 22—Syndicated columnist Suzanne Fields says that the new encyclical Faith and Reason is an important reminder that we each belong to the wider community of man.

“Pope John Paul II is an intellectual in the largest sense of that word. This man of faith tells all of us, Christian or not, to ‘trust in the power of human reason,’” wrote Fields.

“Faith without reason, he says, withers into myth or superstition. Reason without faith strains the connections we require to honor one another. It lacks a moral vision,” she continued.

Fields is Jewish. She said that the importance of the Holy Father's words are that they place each of us in a larger context of the intellectual and faith community of man.

“The Pope's words led me by free association to one of my favorite meditations, by John Donne, the dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in 17th century London. … Meditation XVII, which includes the phrase, ‘for whom the bell tolls.’ “‘Every man and woman is in some sense a philosopher,’ writes John Paul. ‘No man is an island,’ writes Mr. Donne. Could even an atheist argue with that?”

Online Readers Agree with Pope on Technology

DETROIT NEWS, Oct. 24—The Detroit News asked readers who access their newspaper by computer whether they agree with Pope John Paul II that “society risks losing its soul to technology.” The newspaper quoted several responses, almost all of which agreed with the Holy Father:

Ron Lambert of Warren, Mich.: “Technology is useful and desirable, but only as a help to us. Our choices concerning how to use it are what will impact the saving or losing of our souls. Thus, it has always been.”

Joe Galvin of Prudenville, Mich.: “The Pope has set up a Vatican web site, http://www.vatican.va, so he understands the use of new technology. His worry is the misuse of this new technology, where computers replace human understanding and compassion and where those who cannot afford computers are pushed aside and walked on.”

Rob Stelzer of Rio Rancho, New Mexico: “We risk our souls in many more ways, but his Holiness is right. This is the wisest man alive today.”

Ed Koch Recalls John Paul II's 1980 Visit

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Oct. 23—“In my 21 years as congressman and mayor, I met and talked with some extraordinary people. I think you will enjoy thumbnail sketches of those personalities,” began a column by former New York Mayor Ed Koch, explaining that the conversations are recited purely from memory.

He remembered the Holy Father this way: “Pope John Paul, first citizen of the world, came to New York City in 1980. As mayor, I greeted him at the airport.

“Heavy rain was pouring as he disembarked from the plane. At that moment, the sun came out. A cop called out, ‘That's the kind of guy you want to make a golf date with.’”

Koch also remembered speaking with John Cardinal O'Connor about the Vatican: “Cardinal O'Connor, who wrote a book with me, His Eminence and Hizzoner, once told me: ‘My hope before I leave this earth is to help bring about diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel.’”

“He did that and much more,” Koch said admiringly.