Fed: Pope a religious and political leader: Howard

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2005
Fed: Pope a religious and political leader: Howard

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Pope JOHN PAUL the Second was not only a great religious
leader, but also a significant political leader.

Mr HOWARD says the Pope displayed tremendous courage on a range of fronts during his
26-year papacy.

He's told ABC radio the pope's contribution to the freeing of his native Poland, setting
in train events that led to the collapse of Soviet communism, was one of the more remarkable
features of his life.

Pope JOHN PAUL the Second passed away in his Vatican apartment at 5.37am Australian
time (AEST). He was 84.

Mr HOWARD says the world has lost one of the dominant personal influences of his generation.

He says the Pope was an inspirational leader, not only to one billion Catholics around
the world, but to all Christians, people of other faiths, and people of no faith at all.

AAP RTV sw/jmt

KEYWORD: POPE AUST HOWARD (CANBERRA)

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