The only global leader we could really trust

POPE John Paul II was a great man and, in many ways, a paradox.

A social conservative he was willing nonetheless to go to the ends of the earth to espouse progress through peace and justice.

He came through Nazism, helped to defeat communism, and now that he is gone, the world feels an enormous loss.

Where else would the leaders of Cuba, Iran, Syria and the West come together? And to Poland he has left an extraordinary legacy as he guided his people away from the political extremes. They will now try to imbue the spirit of John Paul II to secure a better future.

Although I would have many points of contention with Catholicism, I was compelled to go to the Phoenix Park last Friday evening to pay tribute to the only global figure we could trust - the man who had no time for communism but also abhorred the excesses of capitalism.

JJ Casey

Upper Crossroad

Rialto

Dublin 8