AllMovie

One of the most respected and powerful spiritual leaders of the 20th Century, Pope John Paul II was born in a small community in Poland during World War II where his family narrowly escaped execution by the Nazis. These early experiences informed John Paul's actions when he rose to the papacy in 1978, speaking in support of traditional Catholic dogma while also expressing a progressive interest in human rights, including advocating against the death penalty by publicly forgiving the assassin who tried to take his life. Pope John Paul II is a documentary which examines the life and work of this complex and powerful man.