Essay # II

John Paul II

Everyone is affected by certain events or individuals that greatly change their lives. Many people and events have influenced me during my life. The most recognized person in the world and the man with enormous impact for every single person, not only for billion Catholics was Pope John Paul II. He had great power to touch my spirit. I adore him for many aspects of his unusual life, but the mostly for how he spoke out against war, the culture of death and for his help to fight against communist regime.

Pope John Paul II was known as an anti-war spokesman. Every time when he met with presidents, the Pope always talked very clearly, how important is peace in the World. John Paul II understood very well what war means for people. He lived under the Nazi occupation and in his own eyes he experienced of war. Since day one, John Paul was against the war in Iraq. He asked President Bush to put those plans away. Today, we are witnessing how this war has destroyed people's live. Also, he held numerous meetings with Jewish and Muslim religious leaders asking them to stop fighting and destroying the Holy Land. This special place on Earth which is so important foe every religion. Pope John Paul II successfully encouraged meetings with all religions leader to pray for peace.

At the same time, Pope John Paul raised his voice against the culture of death. He defended the rights of the individual. The Holy Father made a great speech in the U.S.A. against the death penalty. He said that punishment is the best when a person has a chance to rehabilitated. Society can help by offering those who have made mistakes an opportunity to reflect and change their lives. In addition, John Paul II was against abortion. He always said that the nation who kills his own children doesn't have a future. Moreover Pope John Paul II talked about euthanasia. Very often he asked to understand death with dignity. The terminally ill deserve the solidarity and respect. John Paul was negative about destroying a human life because life is beyond any price.

Furthermore John Paul II has been credited with helping to bring down communism in Eastern Europe. Since day one, he supported the Solidarity Movement in Poland. He met with Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher to talk and support the underground movement in Poland. Because he was man of integrity, with the help the U.S.A. , president and leaders of Western Europe, he borough the Soviet Union empire down, but not with missiles or economic sanctions, just by being a man of faith. He was the firest Pope who ever visited a communist country. As a nation, the Polish people will always be thankful to the Holy Father. He led us to freedom and shard inspirations with people of my nation how spare anti-communist ideas. we all witnessed a successful and peaceful anti-communist revolution and collapse of the Soviet Union.

In conclusion, I found Pope John Paul II to be the person who affected my life the most.His life was fascinating. Pope inspires me for reflection on my life and what is going on around the world. like millions, john Paul II had this great power to touch my spirit and he will always have a special place in my mind. His vision of a better world and passion for humans was enormous. He was against war, communism and any kind of man intervene in human lives. John Paul II always advocated for human dignity and defended the rights of individual. He believed in absolute truth and moral values. This Pope was perhaps one of the most influential person from a global perspective. John Paul was voted man of the year 1994 and many times nominated for Nobel peace Prize. Huge adoring crowds met him during his twenty-six years in the Vatican or wherever he go because he was truthful and full of dignity. For me, in these days nobody can replace him because of who he was and what he has done. Thank you John Paul for inspiring me to be a better person.