One year ago today, Pope John Paul II died. Pope John Paul II was a staunch defender of life. He was a great inspiration for all of us, Catholic or not. He canonized many saints. He travelled throughout the world. He helped in to end the evil of Communism. The list goes on.

Pope John Paul contributed to humanity in so many areas. One of his most important contributions related to respect for life. He coined the phrase "Culture of Life." He wrote Evangellium Vitae, the Gospel of Life. He spoke of the importance of respecting human life from conception to natural death. Although he is no longer among the living, his words can still educate us.

During his final years, Pope John Paul II made an important statement on the value of human life until NATURAL death. Despite the horrors of Parkinson's Disease, he continued on in his duties. At a time when it has unfortunately become popular for humans to initiate death for those whom society deems "inconvenient" or in some way "no longer valuable," the late Pope showed us that he could continue to teach and inspire right to the end.

Pope John Paul II will be missed. But he has left a great legacy for all of us.