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Other U.S. Christian leaders focused on the pope's efforts to condemn abortion and same-sex marriage and affirm religious freedom.

"The disagreements that people … who are Protestants have with John Paul II are things that are in addition to the foundations of the faith," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptists' Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

"He certainly is considered a spokesman for the Christian faith that has tremendous respect among all branches of Christendom both for his staunch defense of traditional Christian faith and his strong defense of political and religious freedom."

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative Christian organization, spoke of the pope's legacy when he asked evangelical Christians to join in prayer for him during his recent illness.

"Pope John Paul II has been one of the foremost leaders in building a culture of life," wrote Perkins, a Southern Baptist, in his organization's e-newsletter when the pope was admitted to the hospital in early February.

"His contribution to the fall of communism in Europe cannot go unnoticed. Because of him, millions around the globe now have the freedom to practice their faith, especially as Christians."

Several Protestant leaders, in interviews, noted that not all Christians would agree with all of the pontiff's stances.

For example, Ellis said he didn't see the pope as "the infallible one." Nevertheless, he chose to treat the pontiff — whose faithful resoluteness he compared to the Apostle Paul — with esteem.

"That respect even causes us, when he enters a room, to stand in deference to him," Ellis said. "That's not worship. That's respect."

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April (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49