zeek, again I don't want to take anything away from the fact...

zeek, again I don't want to take anything away from the fact that people have the right to mourn over the loss of anyone or anything they like but as for the Pope having been a "cool guy" as you put it, you'll find a great many people in the world who think quite the contrary... Bush for example!!!! (though that is definitely a feather in the Pope's regalium!)
Many gays, many women,many poor people, many members of his own religion, for example, have argued vehemently with him and no doubt are greateful for his demise.
Personally, I feel religion -because of its demand that its followers simply believe unquestioningly- is a bloody dangerous thing. As dangerous as the sheep who follow politicians of a single persuasion, no matter what these politicians do.
By this millenium we should have grown out of this mindless, mind-dumbing stuff.