THE CHURCH'S CHALLENGES

摘要

POPE JOHN PAUL II WILL be a hard act to follow.For 26 years,he led the Catholic Church with personal charisma and uncompromising moral au-decisive role in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe,did more than any other Pope to end centuries of anti-Semitism,and in his globe-girdling travels pleaded tirelessly for social justice.Under his pontificate the ranks of the world's Catholics increased 40%,to 1.1 billion,thanks to fast growth in Asia,Africa,and Latin America.As a monument to the power of one man to bear witness to the Gospel-and to share that witness with millions of others-his papacy was one of the greatest ever.