He was so great because he was like me

When world leaders reflect on the life, the regency, and the legacy of Pope John Paul II they reveal more about themselves than about the pontiff who has just embarked on his final journey. The following is not meant to be disrespectful, by all means, but isn't it interesting how one's petty politics can shape the perception of the Pope?

I love freedom, and so did he
“The Catholic Church has lost its shepherd. The world has lost a champion of human freedom and a good and faithful servant of God has been called home. — U.S. President George W. Bush

I do what I think is good and right, and so did he
“Throughout a hard and often difficult life, he stood for social justice and on the side of the oppressed, whether as a young man facing the Nazi occupation in Poland or later in challenging the Communist regime. He never wavered, never flinched, in the struggle for what he thought was good and right.” — British Prime Minister Tony Blair

I'm 'Old Europe', and so was he
“He influenced the peaceful integration of Europe during his pontificate in many ways. Time and again he acted with wisdom and respect for cultures and people’s traditions to develop solutions to humanity’s problems. — German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder

America is good, and so was he
“In a certain sense he was 'American’. He enjoyed people. He had a great sense of humor. He was humble, all the things that America likes in their leaders, and I think we saw that in him, therefore we became very close to him. — Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington

I didn't know what to do about Kosovo and nobody listens to me, and neither did he
“I recall very fondly my meetings with him, particularly sitting with him in his private quarters discussing the question of war and peace when we were thinking about what to do in Kosovo." “He ... (was) extremely concerned about the world we lived in, and like me, he also felt that in war, all are losers.” — U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

We want Israel out of Palestine, and so did he
He was “a great religious figure who devoted his life to defending the values of peace, freedom, justice and equality for all races and religions, as well as our people’s right to independence.” — Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas

I hate America, and so did he
“For us Catholics, John Paul II will be remembered as a traveling Pope ... and we should also remember he preached world peace. When the United States invaded Iraq, for example, John Paul II said it was an illegal and immoral act.” — President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez

I believe there was a right-wing conspiracy against me, and so did he
“In speaking powerfully and eloquently for mercy and reconciliation to people divided by old hatreds and persecuted by abuse of power, the Holy Father was a beacon of light not just for Catholics, but for all people.” — Former U.S. President Bill Clinton

I hate Communism, and so did he
“By combating the falsehoods of communism and proclaiming the true dignity of the individual, his was the moral force behind victory in the Cold War.” — Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher