During his visit to Los Angeles in 1987 Pope John Paul II engaged the Islamic Center of Southern California in a historical event in Little Tokyo. The Chairman of the center at that time, Dr. Maher Hathout was one of five representatives of different religions to meet with the Pope and to address the audience. This meeting was one link in the long chain of the legacy of this remarkable leader. Pope John Paul II was a balanced combination of qualities that enabled him to leave his imprint on life, and to touch the hearts and minds of so many different people of different religions and different walks of life. He was a shepherd to his flock, a statesman for the world, and a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church, but he distinguished himself by two things:

1. He was not an ivory pulpit theologian but a man of this world and of this century, a traveler in the relentless quest for peace, justice, inclusion and compassion.

2. He was ready to take the unpopular stands as long as he believed it was the truth.

We shall not forget that he was the first Pope to visit a mosque. He visited leaders such as Arafat, Castro, and Valdelheim at times when association with them was risky.

Muslims will always appreciate his willingness, or rather his eagerness to reach out to them, and to turn over the past page of aggression and contention for a new future of inclusion and cooperation. The Islamic Center of Southern California offers deep condolences to the Archdioceses of Los Angeles, to the Catholic community in our nation, and to Catholics all over the world.