NATCHEZ &045; Ministers of Protestant churches throughout the Natchez area were touched by the death of Pope John Paul II and were quick to praise the life example set by the pontiff, who died Saturday at the Vatican.

Ministers spoke of his moral courage, peacemaking, love of humanity and bridge building across racial, ethnic and denominational lines. And they said the pope’s death will play a role in their Sunday services today.

&uot;John Paul set a high standard for morality within the home. He promoted family unity,&uot; said the Rev. David McGuffee, pastor of Highland Baptist Church. &uot;And he not only preached it. He stood for it, and for that I’m very appreciative.&uot;

The pope’s teachings cut across denominational lines, McGuffee said. &uot;It did not matter for us to agree theologically. He made it clear that the values of the home and family are not a thing of the past.&uot;

Today, McGuffee said, he will remind his congregation that &uot;we be sympathetic to those who are Catholic and hurt by his death. He was a very fine man.&uot;

Further, he will ask his church members to pray for the Catholic Church as the process of choosing a new pope gets under way.

&uot;This could be a pivotal time in the world,&uot; McGuffee said. &uot;The bar was set high by John Paul. It will not be easy for anyone to follow.&uot;

At Washington United Methodist Church, the Rev. Diane Woodall, pastor, said that her first thoughts upon learning of the pope’s death were of her Catholic friends.

&uot;I have a lot of Catholic friends. And I know they’re hurting. I grieve for them. And I agree with President Bush that the pope left the world a better place.&uot;

Woodall will remember John Paul II as &uot;a man who loved God and cared for other people, a champion of the poor. What a challenge he leaves for us,&uot; she said. &uot;I’m sure there will be a fine person found to take his place, but the world is going to be a little poorer because he is gone.&uot;

The death of John Paul so soon after the Easter season and also soon after the highly public death of Terri Shiavo has offered good lessons for Christians.

&uot;His death, along with Terri Schiavo’s, has brought up so many issues,&uot; she said. &uot;During Lent, we go to the cross to participate in the suffering of Jesus. We just saw two people go through that suffering. In the midst of that, we can rejoice because we believe in the resurrection. That’s the hope of Christians.&uot;

The Rev. Clyde Ray Webber, pastor of Vidalia Presbyterian Church in Vidalia, La., said John Paul II has represented not only the Catholics but Christians everywhere during his 26 years as pope.

&uot;He was a peacemaker, and that’s what we need right now. He seemed to cross all the lines of religion and denomination. And everyone admired him,&uot; Webber said.

Webber’s Sunday sermon focuses on &uot;doubting Thomas,&uot; he said. &uot;I already had it prepared before I heard of the pope’s death, but I will work it into the sermon,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s important that everyone pay tribute to him.&uot;

At Natchez Church of God, the Rev. Paul Hays, pastor, agreed. &uot;He built so many bridges between the people who never had the chance to have contact with the pope or Rome or the rest of the world,&uot; Hays said. &uot;He brought a sense of connection between the common people and the church.&uot;

For Hays, the pope’s teachings about family and morality fit well with his own fundamental views. &uot;He created a greater sense of the value of life. When he came to America, he said that great families make great nations,&uot; Hays said. &uot;He was a very intelligent man, spoke so many different languages, but it was his teaching on the importance of life and the family that I appreciate. It will be difficult for anyone to fill his shoes.&uot;

Beyond the church and into the political realm is another area that should not be forgotten, said the Rev. James Earl &uot;Pete&uot; Herndon, pastor of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church.

&uot;The pope was a great influence in the defeat of communism in that part of the world,&uot; Herndon said. &uot;He was Polish, and he went back and forth many times to speak against communism. Poland was one of the first places it began to crumble. John Paul helped to change the world.&uot;

The Rev. Kenneth Stanton, pastor of Rose Hill Baptist Church, said he will have prayers for Catholics as they grieve. &uot;Just his presence meant a lot, because of what he stood for, and not just among Catholics,&uot; he said.

John Paul II will be remembered for his love of humanity, Stanton said. &uot;He always stood for the right thing.&uot;