Ghulam Hasnain, an executive council member of Arasool Center, which represents the Shiite Muslim community in Utah, said he preferred to speak as an individual rather than a representative of the center.

"I think he has been a force for good, speaking for the oppressed and pointing to the moral side of things that people tend to forget — he's very good at that," Hasnain said. "On one hand, I have a great deal of respect for him."

Hasnain did hesitate, however, when it came to the pontiff's renowned conservatism. For example, Hasnain said he was somewhat ambivalent about the pope's crackdown on priests in Latin America who espoused "liberation theology," which involved activist priests blending Christian doctrine and work with the poor to fight social, economic and political oppression.

"I think Pope John Paul II has been a wonderful leader of his church," said John Erickson, assistant to the pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. "I truly believe he was placed as head of his church by God. He led his church through some very turbulent times."

Erickson especially praised the pontiff's efforts to improve the relationships with other denominations and religious traditions, singling out in particular the pope's outreach to Orthodox Christians. "These are wonderful movements that have been needed for a thousand years," Erickson said. "The more we can move and talk to each other, the more we understand each other."

Dr. Glenn Booman, public information officer for the Baha'i faith in Salt Lake City, said he chose to speak as an individual about the pope.

"Pope John Paul II exemplified what the word 'catholic' means, which is comprehensive and universal outlook, a sympathy for all of humankind, a supporter for a unified world," Dr. Booman said. "Baha'is believe in the words of Baha'ullah: 'The world is one country and mankind its citizens.' "

Iman Shuaib-ud Din of the Islamic Society of Greater Salt Lake said the pope's repeated calls for peace in the Middle East could be applauded by many Muslims. The pope's meetings with Yassar Arafat and Israeli leaders showed he wanted to see a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in the region.

"He has visited many Arab countries, many Islam countries. He genuinely wished to see a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has been going on for half a century," he said.

Iman Din also praised the pope's compassion for the less fortunate, particularly in Africa and Asia. "He expressed through his actions his empathy for the poor and needy. In Islam, we see social justice as a main aspect of our faith, that social justice should prevail in the world and there should not be the haves and have-nots."

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