Pope John Paul II

* The Times headline misquotes the pope (Oct. 25). John Paul II said “evolution is more than a hypothesis,” not “evolution is more than a theory.” This illustrates a lack of understanding of what these two words mean in the scientific community.

A theory holds greater weight as a coherent explanation of natural phenomena that has passed critical peer review, is accepted by most scientists in the field and can correctly make predictions. A hypothesis is a tentative explanation that is not yet widely accepted but may have significant evidence behind it and may in time be elevated to the status of theory. The phrase “just a theory” is misleading.

ROBIN SMITH

Mission Viejo

* Pope John Paul II says that evolution is “more than a hypothesis.” This is news? I guess it is as it comes just four years after he stated the church was wrong in condemning Galileo for insisting the Earth orbits the sun, a scientific fact commonly accepted for three centuries.

At this heady rate, it can only be a matter of decades before the pope agrees that the universe is expanding.

KEITH GAYHART