His Holiness John Paul II died this afternoon at the age of 84 after battling with health problems for months. Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, upon news of the Pope’s death, issued the following statement:

With the death of his Holiness John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, the world has lost one of its great Christian leaders. Like the householder in the gospel he was able to bring out of the treasure of his own deep spirit things “both new and old.” His voice and moral authority gave inspiration and hope to millions well beyond the Roman Catholic Church. His commitment to the unity of the church expressed itself in his personal willingness to meet with representatives of other faith communities and to invite those outside his own tradition to reflect on how the ministry of the Bishop of Rome might be of greater service both in the cause of Christian unity and the wellbeing of the world.

The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church, USA