AllMovie

Pope John Paul II is one of the most famous and controversial religious figures of his time, and his tenure as the leader of the Catholic Church has seen him winning enthusiastic support from many Catholics around the world at the same time that their obedience to his teachings is waning considerably. The Life & Times of Pope John Paul II is a documentary from filmmaker Terence McKenna that explores Karol Wojtyla's tragic early life in Poland, his stay in a forced labor camp during the Nazi occupation, his decision to become a priest, and his rise through the church hierarchy to become pope. The film also explores John Paul II's participation in political matters in the 1980s and '90s -- most notably his sometimes secretive role in the battle to defeat Communism -- and his uncertain role as he confronts ill heath while the Catholic Church endures one of the most painful crises in its recent history.