Pope John Paul II will be remembered by historians as one of the great leaders in the history of the Church and the world. Through years of political and religious turmoil that marked his papacy in many parts of the world, he remained steadfast in his promotion of human dignity and human rights. We can never forget his constant reminders of God’s love for the weak and poor, his opposition to violence, including the violence of war in Iraq and the violence inflicted on those convicted of capital crimes, his love of young people and theirs of him, and his tireless efforts on behalf of peace.

As members of an educational order founded by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat to make God’s love known through the work of education, we have admired Pope John Paul’s promotion of scholarship and his remarkable facility with languages. We have been personally challenged by his worldwide travels and global vision as we strive with our own sisters in 45 countries around the world to engage more deeply in dialogue with people of other cultures and faiths.

We are grateful, too, for his elevation of so many holy men and women to the roster of Catholic saints, and particularly for his canonization in 1988 of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, the pioneer educator who brought the Society of the Sacred Heart to the United States, and to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1818.

We have profited from Pope John Paul’s lessons about forgiveness and religious understanding, particularly from his efforts to heal longstanding rifts with people of other faiths.

Pope John Paul II was a man who truly poured out the last drop for what he believed. His profound faith and holiness, his heartfelt concern for the spiritual wellbeing of all humankind, have been a great witness to us, to the Church and to the world.

The United States Provincial Team
Sister Kathleen Hughes, RSCJ, Provincial
Sisters Ellen Collesano, Joan Gannon, Sheila Hammond and Paula Toner