Ever since some Muslim shot and destroyed the health of the Pope, he became weakened. I'm not sure what happened, but he even went to visit that Muslim who tried to murder him. It's kind of like democrats who backed down after supporting Israel after a Muslim killed Robert F. Kennedy. Which is why Muslims know murder and massacre is so effective.
At first I was pretty upset that the Pope would befriend the muslim leadership, but it's his job to rolemodel Jesus Christ so I can't fault him for that. However, it seems to me that radical muslims take kindness for weakness and christian belief as a fault and another weakness. In fact, when some of my customers tell me why they converted to islam, they say it's because christianity taught them to be weak and unselfish and thus easy to enslave.
The Pope is a liberal and a pacifist. That doesn't necessarily make him a bad person but he is not a warrior. It is doubtful his successor will be either.
The Pope has a religious duty which leads in one direction. The military have contrasting duties, but that wouldn't lead me to question the Pope's act of forgiveness.
I'm pretty sure I know what happened. John Paul did what any obedient Christian would have done, he followed the example of his Lord and forgave his tormentor. Remember the Lord's request from the cross, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do"?
Forgiveness of those who cause us suffering is not optional if we want forgiveness from God for our own sin. It's in the book.