As the world mourns the death of Pope John Paul II, student reactions have been quiet and subtle as they remember the life of the Pontiff.

President Eaton wrote in his email to the SPU body that, "the world has lost an important voice in our midst, a voice of moral and spiritual authority, a great witness to the hope we find in the gospel." Students have echoed Eaton's words, saying that although most did not follow Catholic principles, they have come to see the pope as a moral leader.

Sophomore Jonathan Bartsch said that students can still look to the pope for guidance as a moral leader whether or not they are Catholic.

"He was one of our generation's greatest humanists," he said.

Bartsch also said he thought it was sad that there has not been much of a response on the SPU campus.

Freshmen Tyler Steele and Cody Vanderpol agreed, saying that they have heard more about Opening Day for baseball than the pope's death.

"The only response I've seen is Dr. Eaton's email," Vanderpol said. "Not a single professor mentioned the pope in class."

Greg Wolfe, the English Department writer in residence, said that above all the pope provides a great model of Christian discipleship in ways that are deeply ecumenical.

"It appeals to all Christians," he said.

Wolfe said that the pope was a man who was an example of what SPU tries to embody.

"He was a man who engaged his culture with his interest in modern thought, modern life and culture, but instead of just adapting to current culture did something much more difficult," he said. "He sought to find a synthesis between culture and Christian faith."

Sophomore Emily Fletcher said that she has seen a subtle response in students.

"Even though most students aren't Catholic, they are sad that such a great leader is gone," she said. "Dr. Eaton talked about the great steps taken, and I wondered whether the new pope will continue."

Wolfe said that the pope was in some ways the perfect advertisement for a liberal arts education, showing interest in literature, poetry and theatre.

"He made people remember that faith and reason could be harmonized, and that faith is not blind," he said.

According to Wolfe, the pope helped give meaning to a century of suffering.

"As a Catholic, I believe the pope offered other Christians a compassionate understanding of the meaning of suffering, a subject many Christians don't take deeply to heart," Wolfe said. "Both in his thoughts and health struggles he gave witness to the meaning and grace of redemptive suffering."