Biography - Pope John Paul II: Statesman of Faith
For over 25 years Pope John Paul II stood as the most popular pontiff in history a spiritual compass to almost a billion Catholics worldwide and a powerful symbol of peace to countless others.  Considered an outsider choice for the papacy in 1978 Karol Jozef Wojtyla led over 16.7 million people in worship met nearly 700 heads of state survived an assassination attempt and helped facilitate the end of Communism in the Soviet Union. With interviews of childhood friends colleagues and Vatican officials this is the complete story of Pope John Paul II's remarkable life. From his carefree youth in Poland to his human rights activism to his late struggles with Parkinson's Disease the compassion and inspiration of the most traveled Pope in history is portrayed in its entirety.  Join BIOGRAPHY-® and host Harry Smith (The Early Show CBS This Morning) in a touching memorial to one of the world's great icons of peace His Holiness Pope John Paul II.  DVD Features: Timeline; History of Vatican City; A History of Pope John Paul II's Protective Transport; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection