He was, in an important sense, so much “more” than a Pope. He was a human being full of a passion for life, for the goodness of reality, and full of com-passion for suffering of every kind. He was this gigantic man for whom it was obvious that Jesus Christ was everything: “The Redeemer of man, Jesus Christ, is the center of the cosmos and of history” (Redemptor Hominis, 1). He lived this as a fact, as an interpersonal relationship, as an ardent discipleship, as an adventure of truth and love — and he inspired my generation to want to live this way.
He was a convincing sign that Jesus is the answer to our humanity, that He more than deserves our trust.
