Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)

I am not afraid to say, as a practising Catholic, that I am pleased and honoured to have this opportunity to express my personal sadness and sympathy on the death of Pope John Paul II. During the last days of his life and up to his burial, the eyes of the world were focused on Rome via the media. It brought the death of a truly remarkable man into houses throughout the world. His critics will say that he was a conservative person. His opposition to abortion has been raised time and again as if to say that by virtue of that opposition, he was conservative. I am delighted to share his view on that issue. He was opposed to war, the death penalty and poverty, and in favour of human rights. He was opposed to communism and capitalism in its raw form. In this context, he was a person who stood up for his rights and for what he felt was his role in this world.

I appreciated that he said things as they were and people understood him. The Catholic Church has gone through a very difficult period in recent times, not only in Ireland but in America and other countries, because of sex scandals and abuses. His recent death and the outpouring of grief from many people in this and every other country in the world underlines the fact that people are looking for leadership. It would speak volumes if some of the leaders who were present at his funeral Mass took on board Pope John Paul II's teachings and writings. There is much in them for world leaders to express and implement. If they did so in a humane way, the world would be a better place in which to live for many people who now live in poverty, despite the fact that there is so much wealth available. He has set an example for us all. May he rest in peace.

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