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Character counts: Moral leadership example
A recent CNN special on the late great Pope John Paul II was an eloquent account of the life and death of a man who demonstrated a form of leadership that is much too rare in the world moral leadership.
By far the most-traveled pontiff, he constantly reached out to people all over the world demonstrating exceptional love and compassion for the poor and afflicted even as his own illnesses caused him discomfort and pain. He hoped his ability to carry on in the face of his own clearly visible suffering would give strength and confidence to others and it surely did. That's leadership.
He was a man of peace who urged charity, forgiveness and respect even for those who did not share his beliefs. He was firm and tenacious in his convictions, but somehow he avoided being arrogant or pompous.
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He earned commendation and condemnation for his conservative views on family and sexual issues including divorce, birth control, celibacy for priests and homosexuality as well as for his disapproval of anti-Semitism and his desire to end the church's official hostility toward Jews (he recognized the state of Israel and was the first Pope to enter a synagogue).
Pope John treated all religions with respect, hosting an international inter-faith meeting on peace after 9/11 and meeting with leaders of all faiths.
He preached religious freedom, including the rights of Muslims to practice their faith, and was also the first pontiff to enter a mosque.
Yes, he had detractors, and his bold positions prevented him from being universally loved. Still, he was respected, not only by the millions who agreed with him but by millions more who did not. I think it's safe to say he was known, loved and admired by more people than any other leader on Earth.
-- Michael Josephson, of Playa del Rey, is founder and president of the Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics and of the CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition. His Web site is http://www.charactercounts.org. He can be reached by e-mail at commentary@jiethics.org.
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