Giles, pastor of True Faith Inspirational Church in Tampa, is not a Catholic. But that trip to Rome with his wife and son in 2000 transcended denominational boundaries and gave him personal insight into a holy man who championed freedom, justice and equality.

``We had to get our spot seven hours in advance,'' the Baptist minister recalls. ``You should have seen the crowd, all different colors and cultures, united for one purpose. This humble servant of God embraced all people, all religions.''

Such is the legacy of Pope John Paul II, who led by example in the worldwide interfaith community. His death is not only mourned by Catholics, but also by followers of all religions.

``Any leader who promotes the spirit of tolerance and love for one another and God is worthy of note,'' said Kamlesh Darji, a Hindu business manager in Tampa.

When the pope met with Darji's spiritual master, His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in 1984, some observers questioned the necessity of such a meeting.

The Hindu response: ``When religious heads meet each other it lessens bitterness and increases harmony between the followers of the two faiths.''

Even a single meeting and a single dialogue can ``positively influence the minds of millions,'' Darji noted.

A Brave Friend

In a world distorted by false prophets and extremism, the Rev. Fitz Conner of First Presbyterian Church in Tampa could depend on the pope to tell the truth and give an accurate assessment of unfairness, injustice and suffering.

``He called 'em as he saw 'em,'' Conner said. ``His accessibility put a personal touch on a seemingly impersonal bureaucracy in such a way as to win appreciation from the non-Catholic Christian world.''

The Rev. Bernie Lieving, executive pastor of Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, will remember the pope's willingness to confront political powers.

``He was a friend of marginalized, disenfranchised, oppressed people of all races, languages and cultures,'' he said.

One of the pope's main missions was to promote social justice. That mirrors the teachings of the Baha'i faith, a world religion that stresses equality, diversity, unity and tolerance.

His message resonated with Tampa Baha'i Tricia Irons, who believes the pope helped better the world.

``The pope tried to facilitate a greater understanding of the dangers of the excesses of capitalism,'' she says. ``The Baha'i writings teach us that the elimination of extreme poverty and wealth can be achieved through the application of spiritual solutions.''

The Islamic community will remember the pope's role in promoting peace throughout the world. But equally important to Saleh Mubarak, a Tampa engineer and Muslim activist, were the pope's apologies for the church's treatment of Jews and women.

``At one point soon, we hope we hear an unequivocal apology from the Catholic Church for its role in the Crusades and the Inquisitions,'' he said.

A Healing Touch

John Paul II's apology to the Jews for the lack of Catholic response during the Holocaust helped repair strained relations between the two religious communities. The pope's statement that ``anti- Semitism is a sin against God'' was a powerful directive, said Mike Eisenstadt, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

``He also affirmed the right of the Jewish people to a homeland in Israel,'' he said. ``He wasn't afraid to take stands.''

Rabbi Richard Birnholz of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa says the choice of the next pope is crucial to world peace and understanding. He hopes the next pope will be progressive enough ``spiritually and politically to take bold steps``

The pope also began healing the centuries-old split between the Orthodox church and the Church of Rome. The Rev. Stavros Akrotirianakis of St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa is optimistic about relations between the two denominations. But what impressed him most was the pope's ability and desire to communicate with people in their native languages.

``The preservation of the Latin language was not a focal point of his ministry, but rather reaching all people with the message of Christ in their own language,'' he noted.

For Catholics, the death of their spiritual leader is more personal. Anne Dougherty, a Franciscan nun who serves as a hospice chaplain in Tampa, would like to see a discussion on the married priesthood, women deacons and priests, and a reinstatement of priests who married with the church's permission and are willing to return to the ministry.

She didn't agree with all of the pope's stands. But he was her hero in an arena closest to her heart.

``I truly admired this pope as a witness of peace in a violent war,'' she says. ``He is a role model of nonviolence and a true brother to all people.''