A Worthy Tribute to Pope John Paul II the Great

A couple years ago, as Catholics around the world were preparing to celebrate Pope John Paul II’s 25th year in the papacy, my dad happened upon Pope John Paul II: A Tribute, published by LIFE magazine on the occasion of the new millennium. He picked it up and brought it home for me, knowing the high esteem in which I held the pontiff. Very soon the magazine racks will be lined with tributes to the third-longest-reigning Pope in the history of Catholicism, and many books will no doubt follow. For the moment, though, I’m glad I have this book to pore over while I reflect on the life of this great man.

The book, which is in the same large format typical of regular issues of the magazine, spans 120 or so pages and five chapters. Its cardstock pages are filled with photographs from the life of Karol Wojtyla; nearly every page features an illustration, and some of these pictures even span two pages. Rather than a detailed account of the most recent Pope’s tenure in the Vatican, the book chronicles his life up to that point, leaving the last two chapters to deal with the most famous portion of his long life.

At the end of every chapter is a two-page spread making note of Popes and other religious figures with special significance in the history of the Church. These aside are a treasure trove for trivia. Some samples: The 20th century’s beloved Pope John XXIII was the second to bear that name, though the original’s reign was not acknowledged, earning him instead the title of antipope, shared by several other pontiffs whose claim to the papacy was disputed. According to legend, the Church was once headed by a woman named Joan, whose femininity was exposed when she went into labor while horseback riding. Pope Leo X had a white elephant that he cherished as a pet and frequently paraded around the city, much to the disgust of contemporary Martin Luther. I found such tidbits fascinating, and the continual reminder of the papacy throughout history gave me more cause to ponder the historical legacy of Pope John Paul II.

The first chapter in the book deals with Wojtyla as a child and young adult. It begins in 1999, chronicling one of the Pope’s last visits to his homeland, including a trip to the house where he grew up in the town of Wadowice. Author Robert Sullivan takes the reader from the Pope’s fond recollection of those bygone days into that time when he was just a little boy known by the nickname Lolek. Even from those early days, it seemed he was special, though few could have predicted just how important he would eventually become. There’s something very encouraging in the realization that this future Pope was a fairly normal child. More gifted and compassionate than most, perhaps, but enjoying a number of activities typical of youngsters. He was especially fond of soccer, skiing and hiking; his passion for the outdoors would endure throughout his life, as would his flair for drama and poetry. In fact, Sullivan tells us he had originally intended to study drama, a plan that would fall through with the advent of the Nazi invasion and the closing of his university. By his early 20s, he’d lost his brother and both parents to illness and countless friends, many of them Jewish, to the Nazis.

The second chapter focuses on his journey from clandestine seminarian to bishop. While he studied for the priesthood, aware that all around him clergy and academics were being hauled off to concentration camps, he worked in a quarry and at a chemical plant. The tragedy and cruelty of World War II cemented his sense of purpose in being a priest; the ensuing decades would find him dealing with another oppression, that of communism. He owed much to the mentorship of several clergy, perhaps most of all Cardinal Sapieha, who had him pegged for the priesthood when he saw Wojtyla present an oration in his honor in high school and continued to groom him for greater things in the Church even after his death, passing responsibility of the young cleric to Archbishop Baziak. During these early years, Wojtyla made a reputation for himself as a teacher and speaker and earned the affection of his parishioners and students, whom he often led on theologically-charged nature hikes.

The third chapter follows Wojtyla’s unlikely path to becoming a Cardinal. While it seems the most dangerous times for Wojtyla were during World War II, he continued to face challenges, and that he was able to rise through the ranks to achieve the title of Cardinal essential to be considered for the papacy is a testament to the notion that his election was providential. Communism was increasingly a threat at this point, but he managed to remain active in his ministry in spite of the oppressive government and somehow eluded their radar as a political force to be reckoned with. It was a time of great change in the Church, and his childhood experiences helped inform his insistence on absolving Jews of responsibility in the death of Jesus. He championed his beliefs passionately, revealing an intriguing mix of progressive ideals, such as ecumenism and taking an active role in aiding Third World countries, and conservative values, such as disapproval of divorce and of any actions that deny the sanctity of life – including abortion and birth control. His stance of these subjects and others would remain steady throughout his papacy.

Chapter four discusses the demise of Pope Paul VI and the strange weeks that followed: first the death of Pope John Paul I after barely a month in office, then the election, after much deliberation, of the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years. Most were surprised by the choice, which is hard to imagine for the millions of us who have grown up knowing only this Pope. Clearly, he quickly adapted to the role, using the influence of his position as well as his natural charisma to win over hordes of devout Catholics and, impressively, world leaders with whom he had fundamental disagreements. It’s generally agreed that the fall of communism owes a great deal to Pope John Paul II. His oratorical skill and common touch also aided in making him perhaps the greatest papal “fisher of men” since Peter and probably the most visible man of the century. Traveling as many miles during his 26 years as would be required for a round trip to the moon, he allowed millions of people in dozens of countries to see him in person, while countless others watched him on television. He reached out to the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised… even to the man who nearly succeeded in murdering him in 1981. He remained a formidable force.

Chapter five stands almost as an afterthought, assessing the Pope’s relevance at the turn of the millennium while acknowledging all he accomplished up to that point. Sullivan notes that as the year 2000 neared, he became more beloved but less obeyed. Particularly those in America objected to his doctrines, often too conservative for such a contemporary country. But he stuck to his principles, always speaking out against injustices he saw in the world. In spite of accumulating ailments, the peripatetic Pope continued to preach throughout the world, while begging forgiveness on behalf of the Church for wrongs done in the name of Catholicism over the past two millennia. Perhaps that passion would be the legacy he would leave history to record.

As is typical of LIFE books, half of this tribute is pictorial. Though the fuzzy quality of many of the early photographs is disappointing, that can hardly be helped, and they allow us a glimpse of a very holy man when he was still trying to figure out his direction in life. My favorite pictures are those portraying Wojtyla enjoying the great outdoors or the company of adoring young people. I was surprised to discover that one of my favorite pictures of the Pope, in which he forms eyeglasses with his fingers, is not included; I’m puzzling now over which book I have that includes that candid moment displaying his sense of humor. I get a kick out of the portrait on page 83 of him smiling in African regalia amongst natives on his first tour of that continent and the captured moment on page 60 of him feeding a kangaroo during a pre-papal expedition to Australia, and the serene shot of him reading while reclining amidst lush greenery recalls his fondness for the outdoors and literature and ends the book on a peaceful note.

This is a fine overview of the life of one of the most important figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest Popes in a 2000-year history. For an in-depth understanding of Pope John Paul II’s significance, it would probably be better to turn to a biography such as George Weigel’s Witness to Hope or, of course, one of the several books written by Pope John Paul II himself. I would not be surprised if LIFE either expands this book or comes out with a new one chronicling the Pope’s last days; it might be worthwhile to wait and see. Standing alone, however, this is a fine tribute to a man whose vast influence is becoming all the more clear this week. I highly recommend it for anyone as charmed and inspired by him as I was.