Deeply saddened to learn the death of Pope John Paul II, we, the Turkish American Muslim Community, offer our heartfelt condolences to the believers of the Catholic Faith.
As a great leader of faith and morality, he served not only the Catholic Church but the whole humanity. His deep influence in saving East European nations from the tyranny of communism, his dedicated support for peace in the world, and his firm stance for moral values has transformed our world for better. His emphasis on mutual tolerance and dialogue among different faiths of the world had also great contribution to humanity. Especially his positive approach to Islam, as symbolized by his meeting Muslim scholars among many other episodes, was a major contribution to mutual understanding between the world's two great religions. We will always remember his efforts.
