Rola papieża Jana Pawła II w przemianach społeczno-politycznych w Polsce i w Europie

Abstract

One of the greatest characteristic points of the pontificate of the present pope is his engagement in the apostolic visits around the world and his teaching on human rights. This teaching was helpful in a very significant way in introducing the democratic reforms and in the fall of communism - first in Poland and then in other countries of the communist bloc. In those events the pope sees “God’s finger” and “miracle” though he recognizes in the communist thought some “seeds of truth” that shouldn’t be neglected. Among those the author of the article names unemployment policy, the care for the poor and in general the broad social sphere. These ideas had some positive influence in making the „wild capitalism” less wild. The fall of the communism was at the same time the beginning of a massive attack on the part of the political left and liberal movements against the Catholic Church and the pope. The author in his article stands strongly for the proposal of attributing to John Paul II the title of “John Paul the Great”.