Message on the Death of Pope John Paul II

I want to express my condolences to the Catholics of the World on the sad demise of Pope John Paul II. He was truly a world leader. For nearly a quarter century he was a beacon of freedom, religious tolerance, and inter-faith relations.

In a world despiritualized by materialism, secular fundamentalism and religious extremism, he was a champion of moderation and peace. He was a friend of Islam and Muslims and we shall always remember his bold positions on the Middle East crisis and the war against Iraq.

One of his many legacies will be his outreach to Muslims and I hope that his successor will not only continue in the same spirit but will also move forward to further emphasize the good relations between the Catholic Church and the Muslim World.