The Pope

I have read everything about the Pope -- his illness, career, accomplishments, death and subsequent funeral events. I have learned much about what he did during his life. How many people, at age 58 have the opportunity to be a world leader for 26 years, influencing nations and people around the globe? What a wonderful job that would be. OK, so I may not agree with some of the doctrine (I am not Catholic), the decisions and sticking to out-moded rules. He was a learned man and had the ability to travel across geographic, political and religious lines, which he did gracefully. He was clearly ecumenical in his efforts, and truly worked with all kinds of belief systems as dictated by the wording in his miter. (The traditional pope's miter is fashioned in such a way to include the teachings of Old Testament with the New Testament, sewn in a way dictated by several Biblical passages.) Regarding internal church stuff -- I don't know anything in detail about that, but reading about the scandals of abuse is disgusting. Not sure how to make sense of the accusations that he kept AIDS research from proceeding.
If I were near Rome, I would have attended some portion of the recent funeral, just to be part of such a significant world event. I was particularly fascinated by the concept of smashing the pope's ring upon death, as a way to make sure imposters did not use the papal seal after he passed.
On the topic of other worldwide events, I was glued to the wedding of Diana and Prince Charles, as well at the first (2nd, 3rd) moon landings and the execution of Ted Bundy (I cheered!) I remember vividly where I was when JFK was shot and also the time when the nation observed two minutes of silence following his funeral. The night of the worldwide candlelight vigil for John Lennon, I stood with a candle in the throngs at the Seattle Center. I am sure I have participated in other worldwide events but cannot think of them now -- is looking at a solar eclipse one of them?