The world is sensing a void with the death of Pope John Paul 11. And not just the billion or so Catholics arond the world who feeling the loss of John Paul, but people of many faiths are mourning the loss of the man who was a little-known Polish cardinal when he became pope in 1978.

John Paul was known as tough, intellectual, athletic and charismatic. He was unafraid to speak truth to power, yet world leaders - even those whose policies he found fault with - sought him out. Early in his papacy, his outspoken support for the Solidarity movement in Poland helped bring about the decline of Communism in Eastern Europe and beyond.

Though he was not the first pope to venture beyond Vatican City, he traveled the world far more than any of his predecessors. And his outreach was more than geographic; he also reached out to non-Catholics, most notably to Muslims and Jews.

Even as Parkinson's disease and other ailments made him appear very frail and elderly, he had a special rapport with young people. Nurtured through his World Youth Day celebrations, John Paul's close connection with young people remained until the end, when his final message to the public on Friday acknowledged and thanked the young people who had gathered to pray for him.

During his nearly 27 years as pope, John Paul II remained steadfast in pressing his message focusing on faith, God's love and human dignity. He was a tireless advocate for the world's poor and oppressed.

John Paul's belief in the power of divine mercy and forgiveness was illustrated in his prison visit with the man who attempted to assassinate him in 1981, as well as his admission of past Catholic church failures in terms of the treatment of Jews.

He was unwilling to reform the Catholic church to conform with growing support, particularly in the U.S., on topics such as birth control, celibacy for priests and women in the priesthood. Yet this conservative support for traditional church doctrine did little to weaken his popularity; he remained widely respected, even by those who disagreed with him.

What little exposure John Paul II might have had to criticism would come from those who felt that the Catholic Church did not act or speak out quickly enough when the sex scandals involving priests erupted a few years ago in the United States.

In the days following his death, his remarkable life will be remembered and celebrated. Despite his personal air of humility, John Paul II will likely be remembered as not only one of the great popes but also as one of the world's most influential leaders - religious or secular.