Today in St. Peter’s Square, a bell sounded that signified the death of one of history’s most prominent figures – Karol Josef Wojtyla – Pope John Paul II.

Born in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920, Karol Josef Wojtyla was the son of a retired army officer and school teacher. He studied literature and philosophy and was later a playwright and poet. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, he secretly studied theology and by the age of 36, he had two doctorate degrees and became a professor of ethics. At age 47, he became a cardinal and led the only moral and social force in Poland that could counter Communism.

On October 16, 1978, Karol Josef Wojtyla took the name John Paul II and became the first Slavic Pope ever, the 263rd Pope in history, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years – and the second longest pontiff in modern times. In June of 1979, within months of his election to the Papacy, he went home to Poland for a visit. There, he gave his blessing to an underground labor movement called Solidarity that would later emerge to reshape Poland. Some historians say that John Paul II’s trip back to his homeland helped end the Cold War.

On May 13, 1981, while Pope John Paul II was circling St. Peter’s Square before his Wednesday general audience at the Vatican, he was shot by a Turkish gunman named Mehmet Ali Agca and spent more than two months recovering in a Rome hospital. Two years later, on December 27, 1983, the Pope offered forgiveness to Agca during an arranged meeting in prison.

The most athletic Pope in history, John Paul II played soccer as a goal-keeper, took daring swims in the flooded Skawa River, and enjoyed skiing, hiking, mountain climbing and kayaking. He could communicate his message in eight languages, and even wished a Happy Easter to the world in 58 languages during Easter Mass at the Vatican in April 1998 as part of his urbi et orbi [to the city and the world]. He also traveled widely throughout his Papacy and was the first Pope to ever visit Auschwitz. Whether you are a Catholic or not, the passing of Pope John Paul II is certainly one of the most significant events of our modern time. For the past 27 years, he led 1.1 billion Catholics with a love for them and the God they all worshiped so dearly. Despite the fact that not everyone in this world practiced what he preached, he worked very hard to maintain positive relations with leaders of all religions, as well as the heads of nations around the world. Each time he delivered his sermons, he touched everyone who heard him speak. Frequently, you could see his followers wiping away tears as they watched and listened to him. And when someone was lucky enough to get touched by the Holy Father – you could plainly see that the receiver of the Pope’s blessing felt as if they were touched by the hand of God Himself.

I was never lucky enough to see the Pope in person nor did I ever hear one of his sermons in full, but from what I did see of him, I could tell that he was someone who genuinely believed in his role as the leader of the Catholic Church. From his first day to his last, he made sure that he delivered the word of God no matter the suffering he endured from his many ailments, which included Parkinson’s disease and the many complications that came with it, which included a urinary tract infection and difficulty breathing. The last time he tried to speak to the faithful in St. Peter’s Square was this past Easter Sunday, but unfortunately, he was unable to speak. Since then, the Pope’s health began to deteriorate until he finally lost consciousness this morning – and despite the efforts of his doctors and the silent vigil held by his faithful and loyal followers – he was returned to God and now sits beside Him in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Tonight, I join the billions of people around the world who mourn the loss of this incredible man and pray that he is resting in peace. While none of us can be sure what lies ahead in “The Great Beyond,” I hope that now that Pope John Paul II is in Heaven, that he is rewarded for his tireless and selfless work on Earth – and revered for bringing faith in God to so many people.

For the next week, St. Peter’s Square and churches all over the world will be filled with mourners who will attend a world-wide funeral to say goodbye to their beloved religious leader. And even long after the passing of Pope John Paul II becomes yesterday's news to the media – I know that his memory will last in the minds of the faithful for many, many years to come.

Rest in peace Heavenly Father – I pray that you are with God – now and for eternity.