The death of Pope John Paul II closes a remarkable chapter in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. John Paul was more than just the spiritual leader of the 1.1-billion-member church; he was a world historical figure who played a key role in ending the Cold War and re-establishing the Catholic Church as a force in politics and international affairs. Yet for all his dynamism and readiness to challenge secular authority, the pope was also rigid and doctrinaire: He tolerated no challenges within his church. That too is a legacy his successor must face as the Catholic Church enters the 21st century.
Archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow, Poland, was named pope in 1978. His selection followed a tumultuous year in which Pope Paul VI died after 15 years in office, and his successor, John Paul I, died after only 33 days as pope. When Pope John Paul II emerged at the age of 58, he was the youngest pope in 125 years. A Pole, he was the first non-Italian to be named pope in 455 years.
John Paul broke with tradition in big ways and small. He skied. He mingled with visitors to Saint Peter's, worked the crowds during his travels in the "popemobile" and in the flesh. More significantly, he preached reconciliation. Throughout his papacy, John Paul reached out to Jews and reminded his church of the ways it brought suffering to them. The Vatican formally recognized Israel in 1993. Visiting Syria in May 2001, he became the first pope to enter a mosque. In Greece, he apologized for wrongs committed against Orthodox Christians. He visited the Holy Land to find his roots and preach the unity of the three great religions.