Pope John Paul II: His Influence on the World

Pope John Paul II: Influence on the World

Pope John Paul was one of the most influential persons of the 21st century. He changed the way the Catholic Church looked at the world and vice versa. Unlike most other predecessors, he stressed on dialogue and understanding among the people of the world. He sought to bring the people of the world together through the message of both love and peace. The role he played in destroying communism and bringing dictatorship around the world to an end gained wide media coverage. His dialogue between different faiths was admirable. During his papacy that stretched from 1978 to his death in 2005, he had a positive impact on the Catholic scene in particular and the world in general.

The Pope helped in demolishing the communist regimes. The state had a monopoly over most property which was collectively owned. This monopoly extended to intellectual property as well. Marxism was the only philosophy that one could profess. The church was the first to break free and give the citizens an alternative to the state run concepts.

Poland was a case in point. If one wanted to know what was actually transpiring there, one could pick up an underground newspaper. To view paintings by artistes who were not officially commissioned by the government, one had to go to the basement of a church. Even plays would be performed there. While the priests of the church did not involve in any of the above-mentioned activities, they offered the church premises for such activities. The priests of the church were following the example set by Pope John Paul II in his youth during the Nazi days.

In the words of the Pope, "Fidelity to roots is always creative, ready to descend into the depths, open to new challenges." (qtd in Apple...

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... the faith in God was restored.

Apart from effecting regime changes and initiating dialogues between Christianity and other faiths, there are other credits to his fame. He was deeply involved in the rites of the Catholic Church and pushed for reforms wherever possible. However, there have also been areas where he had taken a rather conservative stance, for e.g. abortion and alternative sexuality. Nevertheless, the contribution to Catholicism, Christianity and the world at large can never be undermined. It is rarely that such great leaders are born.

Works Cited

Applebaum, Anne. “How the Pope 'Defeated Communism'”. The Washington Post, Feb. 6, 2005. Web 16 April 2014.

Filteau, Jerry. “Pope made important overtures to non-Christian religions.” Catholic News Service. Web. 16 Feb 2014.

General Augusto Pinochet. The Telegraph, 11 Dec. 2006. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.