$Unique_ID{COW02950}
$Pretitle{362}
$Title{Poland
A Pope From Poland}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Polish Embassy, Washington DC}
$Affiliation{Polish Embassy, Washington DC}
$Subject{pope

}
$Date{1990}
$Log{}
Country:     Poland
Book:        Update on Poland
Author:      Polish Embassy, Washington DC
Affiliation: Polish Embassy, Washington DC
Date:        1990

A Pope From Poland

     In October 1978, a Polish prelate became Pope of the Roman Catholic
Church (the number of Roman-Catholics in the world is estimated at more than
700 million). Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, former Metropolitan Archbishop of
Cracow, took the name of John Paul II. He became the first non-Italian pope in
455 years, and the fact that a `foreigner' had ascended the papal throne
created a stir throughout the world.

     Foreign tourists are flocking to Cracow in increasing numbers, and the
neighbouring town of Wadowice, where the present pope was born and raised, has
become a great tourist attraction. In 1979, and again in 1983, John Paul II
visited Poland.

     The pontificate of John Paul II is marked by his constant struggle for
peace and social justice. He often speaks about Poland and often uses his
native language in conversation with his compatriots. The Polish Pope is a
traveller and constantly visits various regions of the world to meet the
people and their leaders. Recently in the small town of Wadowice where John
Paul was born a museum was founded to commemorate him.