Pope+John+Paul+II

Overview
TIME Magazine described the work of Pope John Paul II by saying, “He (the Pope) comes here to speak before the whole church, before Europe and the world, of those often forgotten nations and peoples. He comes here to cry ‘with a loud voice’. He comes here to embrace all these peoples, together with his own nation, and to hold them close to the heart of the church.” Pope John Paul II went beyond the expectations of the world. The pope grew up in Wadowice, Poland. As he grew up, Pope John Paul performed manual labor and strove to learn. He now lives out of the Vatican in Rome as the first Pope without Italian ethnicity in 450 years. Here, John Paul’s charisma and optimism became contagious.

Critical Issue[[image:main_popejohn.jpg width="150" height="102" align="right" caption="Pope Jonh Paul II" link="http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/popejohn.html"]]
Pope John Paul II led the Catholic community, and the world, through a time of political turmoil. During his years of worship John Paul was faced with a Holocaust, a mass genocide of Jewish people, and communistic regimes, the Soviet Union. Despite these down falls, he was able to preach to the world zeal and faith. Pope John Paul II took a different approach to his life of service. He was known to, as TIME Magazine describes, “He also kisses babies, cuts red tape, says what he thinks, has an actor’s (or a politician’s) delight in an audience, and a former laborer’s gift for gauging the common touch of a crowd.” Unlike past popes, John Paul II longed for companionship and interaction with the people. Pope John Paul II was also known for his conservative view point. He stressed the importance of priest’s celibacy and his distaste for divorce. He taught compliance to the word of the Lord, and that it was not up for debate between religious leaders. Pope John Paul II brought about change during a time of routine sermons.

Conclusion/Historical Significance
Pope John Paul II is most well known for his attempts to influence western culture. As TIME Magazine said, “The most tireless moral voice of the secular age, he reminded humankind of the worth of individuals in the modern world.” His compassion for the world helped his naturally fun attitude shine. John Paul II saw not only the person but the individual. As he walked through the Vatican garden one day, he approached the gardener with an out stretched hand. They gardener replied nervously, “They’re dirty, Holy Father.” Pope John Paul II took the man’s hands and dirtied his cassock with them. A smile appeared and John Paul responded, “I know they’re dirty, but I don’t do my own washing.”