April 2, 2005

Calling his 26-year papacy "a remarkable legacy of faith," Pope John Paul II is being remembered by the Rev. John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general minister and president, as a religious leader committed to global peace and the nurture and development of young people.

Thomas, who leads the 1.3-million-member UCC in the United States and Puerto Rico, offered praise and condolences for the deceased Roman Catholic head, saying that what touches one part of the Christian family, touches all Christians.

"We stand in prayer with Catholics around the globe as they mourn the death of Pope John Paul II, leader of the Roman Catholic Church for more than a quarter of a century," Thomas said. "The United Church of Christ, committed at its inception to ecumenical relationships and the unity of the whole church of Jesus Christ, believes that when one part of the family grieves, all do. That which touches our sisters and brothers across the Christian faith touches us as well, and today we stand with Roman Catholic colleagues in the United States and around the world as they mourn the passing of their ecclesial and spiritual leader."

Thomas said theological differences between the two Christian traditions should not stand in the way of expressing our shared respect and grief for a Christian leader who demonstrated a "deeply spiritual commitment to peace" and displayed a "remarkable contribution to the welfare of the whole world."

"Differences we have in theological perspective do not keep us from giving testimony to this remarkable legacy of faith and we celebrate those achievements even as we mourn his death," Thomas said.

Thomas lauded the Pope's high-profile commitment to building peace in the Middle East, Sudan, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere. In addition, the UCC's leader said the Pontiff's focus on youth and young adults "has inspired generations of young people, both within and beyond the Roman Catholic family."

Read Thomas' full statement at: http://www.ucc.org/news/st040105pope.htm.

United Church News