It surprised many of my colleagues when I mentioned to them that I pray on a daily basis for Pope John Paul II. "For his conversion?" a fundamentalist minister quickly asked. My response was equally quick and to the point. "No...for his protection and that the Holy Spirit would continue to give him wisdom in guiding the people of God." You must understand my colleague's surprise is based on the fact that I have not always been gracious to Catholics and there was a time when I held to the theological position that the Pope was the anti-Christ. Why the change in my attitude? Well, it didn't happen over night. It began when I picked up one of the Holy Father's books. I have always believed you can learn a great deal about someone from what they write.

The Holy Spirit began to deal with my heart when I picked up Crossing the Threshold of Hope. And when I read Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) I realized Pope John Paul II was a moral leader declaring not just for Catholics but for the whole world, a world heading down the slippery slope of situational ethics -- that there was an absolute morality. But when I read Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), I came to the realization that this pope was more than just a moral leader. He was and is a Prophet in the Old Testament sense -- "one who speaks in behalf of God," "inspired of God," and a "bearer of the Word of God," in his declaration of an encroaching " culture of death" warning us of the sins of abortion and mercy killing and urging us to take up the call to create a "culture of life." I found myself shouting "Amen!"

I have heard that a majority of American Catholics accept the idea that the Pope is a moral leader yet I have also heard that same majority say they follow their own conscience rather than the Pope's authoritative pronouncement’s on specific moral issues. This is indeed a dangerous attitude for as Pope John Paul II wrote: "the conscience is not infallible."

I would ask you to think on this question -- do not the scriptures reveal that the Pope is a gift to the Church, indeed to the world; the gift of Teacher and Shepherd feeding and strengthening the Body of Christ? And one of the ways he does this is by his teaching role -- defining matters of faith and morals. (Luke 22:33-34, John 21: 15-17; Ephesians 4:11-14)

The question remains: will the people of God in America listen and obey their Prophet-Pope and reap blessings or will they, like the Israelites of old spurn their prophet and incur the wrath of God? If you believe what the Bible teaches that Pope John II is the "rock" upon which the Church is built -- then isn’t it about time you lean on the rock for stable moral guidance instead of the "winds of conscience" that toss us to and fro?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, bless and protect Pope John Paul II. Continue to give him health and to inspire and guide him as our Prophet, Pastor and Teacher.