John Paul II Remembered

Kathryn Jean Lopez of NRO obtained a quick interview with Pope John Paul II's biographer, George Weigel (link in title). Here's an excerpt:

National Review Online: What's Pope John Paul's greatest legacy?

George Weigel: He was the great Christian witness of the last quarter of the 20th century, the man who took the Christian proposal to more of the world than anyone else. His pivotal role in the collapse of European Communism will be remembered by many; I hope they remember that he helped bring down the Wall as a pastor and teacher, not as a politician.

NRO: We know he's played a big role in the history of the world, how about more parochially — in Catholic history?

Weigel: This was the most intellectually consequential pontificate since the Council of Trent. The Church will be digesting the teaching of John Paul II for at least a century, and possibly longer. In addition to that, and at a more personal level, John Paul inspired literally tens of millions of Catholics to live lives of radical Christian conviction. That will extend his influence far into the future.

Three of Weigel's articles on the Pope for The Weekly Standard are here (his visit to America in '95), here (his visit to Jerusalem) and here (previewing the Pope's 1998 trip to Cuba).