Essay on Pope John Paul Xiii Impact on Christianity

Paul of Tarsus (originally Saul of Tarsus) is widely considered to be central to the early development and adoption of Christianity. Many Christians view him as an important interpreter of the teachings of Jesus. Little is known of the birth and early childhood of Paul, then known as Saul. It is known in the scriptures that he was born in the city of Tarsus (Acts 22:3) located in the Roman province of Cilicia around the year 5 A.D. Saul left his home during his early adolescence and was taken to Jerusalem for his formal education in the most prominent rabbinical schools of that day. Young Saul had the privilege to be trained by Gamaliel, the most outstanding

The contribution of Pope John XXIII has been profound, as many of his initiatives and actions are still resonating today. His acceptance of Jesus’ words “I came to save all nations.” Represented his motivation to do well and bring peace upon the world. He was an advocate of Christian unity, social justice, human rights and the promotion of world peace. It is through his development of the Second Vatican Council, his contribution to ecumenism and his empathy for humanity that Pope John XXIII made a significant impact upon the development and expression of Christianity.

The Apostle Paul, Saint Augustine, and Martin Luther have been three very important figures in the Christian church. Each went through a unique personal experience that changed the course of their lives. Those experiences were important to them and they should be important to anyone of the Christian faith. In this research paper I will explore these experiences and how they do and do not relate to each other.

Karol Józef Wojtyła, famously known as Pope John Paul II, was the Bishop of Rome and the pope of the Roman Catholic Church from October 1978 until his death on April 2005. As a pope, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in more than four centuries and the first Polish pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His papacy lasted for 27 years, which is to this day the second longest in history (Blakemore, 2017). He was also one of the most polarizing figures during the late twentieth century. Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II was more than just a pope because he had a different style of papal leadership, diplomacy, and a high charisma unlike his previous predecessors such as Pope Pius XII and Pope Paul VI (Scott, summer of 2000). Pope John Paul II transformed his influence as a pope to a worldwide office and used it to preach more than a billion of people across the globe. According to Scheller, Schaffer, Kurlantzick, Kulman, and Stille (2005), the pope was “a trained actor and philosopher who understood the power of word and symbol and wielded both with precision, whether in meetings with heads of state or before teeming crowds of the faithful (first paragraph).” John Paul II also believed that the church can have a much bigger impact by having world communications from different countries and he delivered the gospel by travelling around different parts of the world. The late pope was also well-known for inventing the World Youth Day, which is bringing about real transformation

Pope John XXIII was know as the ‘peoples pope’ because of his warm and friendly nature that people could relate to. He contributed socially, liturgically and politically to Christianity especially in the Catholic church. Pope John XXIII was an advocate of Christian unity, social justice, human rights and the promotion of world peace. Through his work with the Vatican II, Ecumenism, interfaith and his encyclicals as well as his initiative with world leaders he set a new task for Church and a new perception for the papacy. This in turn had a huge impact on the development and expression of Christianity worldwide

To him I presented the letter of our lord the pope, and invited him to adopt the Catholic faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, but he had grown too old in idolatry. However he bestows kindnesses upon the Christians, and these two years past I am abiding with him.

“There is strength in numbers” (Mark Shields). This well-known quote emphasizes the importance of working together. However, “strength in numbers” would never be achieved without a great leader. Great leaders are the basis for success in all aspects of society because without someone to lead, plans cannot be executed and ideas remain mere thoughts in people’s minds. One such great leader was Martin Luther, a German theologian, who is credited with beginning the Protestant reformation. Part of the reason why his name is so readily associated with the reformation is because he had the courage to create change. Luther was not the first to have radical ideas about reforming the Roman Catholic Church: there must have been others who loathed indulgences or were cognizant that the papacy often corrupted its power. However, Luther was the one to gather his ideas and stand up against the Church, for the sake of Christianity and its followers. Even though he often faced the threat of harsh consequences, he never recanted his teachings or gave up hope. Despite encouraging mass violence, Martin Luther should be known as a great leader since he reformed the Roman Catholic Church and helped make Christianity more accessible to the common people.

Martin Luther was a Monk, Priest and Theologian born in late 1483 in the German town of Eisleben. His father owned a copper mine and had always wished for his son to go into civil service. When Luther was seventeen he arrived at the University of Erfurt. By 1502, Luther had already received his bachelor’s degree and by 1505 he had a Master’s degree. The same year, while returning to University, he was caught in a tremendous thunderstorm. A lightening bolt struck near him and terrified, he cried out, "Help, St. Anne! I'll become a monk!”. Luther lived, and keeping to his promise, he dropped out of university and entered the monastery.

Of the many Christians at work during the 20th century, the three most influential people that I believe will be remembered the most throughout the history of Christianity are Pope John Paul II, Karl Rahner, and Karl Barth. During Pope John Paul II’s pontificate, he had to deal with issues that connected the church to views in the outside world. His first challenge was communism in the Soviet Empire. The communist government of Poland had begun to cause tension between the Catholic Church during an election which led to Poland independence from the Soviet Empire (pg. 448). Several other countries followed this victory in Poland and they eventually overthrew the communism government of the Soviet Empire (pg. 448). John Paul II also had to deal

For years the diplomatic policies instituted by Pope Pius XII during World War II have been a source of great controversy. The Pontiff has been christened by many as "Hitler's Pope," a Nazi sympathizer who abstained from allotting responsibility to the Nazi regime for their heinous acts. Additionally, critics have condemned the Pope for not urging Catholics to resist against the influence of the Third Reich. Nonetheless, the appeasement attitude adopted by Pope Pius XII was not due to a closeted support of Nazism. On the contrary, the Pontiff was appalled by Nazi ideology and conduct. It is the tactful strategy, of this idealistic Pope, set on obtaining peace and the survival of the church, which fundamentally tarnishes his reputation years

After he became a priest, Pope John Paul II went to Rome to study and get his master’s degree. He spent the next several years teaching. In 1958, he was appointed Bishop and assistant to the Archbishop in Karkow and returned to Poland. In 1962, the Archbishop of Karkow died, and Pope John XX appointed Bishop Wojtyla as the Bishop of Karkow, but because Poland was “under the oppression of another inhuman ideology, atheistic communism” he could not officially return to Poland as Bishop of Krakow for 2 more years. Even though he was constantly threatened by the Soviets, he would not accept people being forced to be atheists, so instead he spread the word of God throughout Poland. He opened 11 new parishes and he publicly led a Catholic

parents, of whom all three have died by the time he was 22 years old.

Pope Benedict XI must be one of the greatest Papal ever. At the time of his leadership it was a moment great quest by Christians in Europe and the world to get someone with divine prophetic call to shape the end of the war I. Pope Benedict XI is hailed as having had great desire to help Europe stop carnage and destruction of innocent lives and property. He must have used his gifted voice to call for warring nation to make peace by use of peaceful means such as diplomacy and treats that could define the disputed boundaries and territories. Off course, war I was majorly caused by unlawful annexation of territories and lack of humanity.

This paper will discuss Pope John Paul II’s role in the fall of communism in Germany and his native Poland through in depth research and an analysis of biographical research.

Integral human development also asks difficult moral questions for all to get a perspective from the side of the poor and the victimized. Pope Francis brings up a good argument when stating, “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing and its human roots, concern and affect us all” (Francis, 14). Pope John Paul II has a depiction of the exercise of solidarity similar to that of Jean Vanier. “The exercise of solidarity within each society is valid when its members recognize one another as persons” (John Paul II, 39). Jean Vanier in The Vision of Jesus, provides a rational depiction of the Christ’s view between the powerful and powerless. This is the lens that is provided on what we should