John Paul II and the three phases of his leadership in Poland

Abstract

The purpose of the text is to analyze the leadership of Pope John Paul II in Poland from the 1970s to the present, showing the changes in the perception of the pope’s leadership during three different phases. In the communist period the papal leadership focused on social justice issues; during the transitional period on religious issues; and in the final, contemporary phase, it is perceived as part of Polish identity. The change in the perception of the papal leadership was linked not only to political changes, but also to processes in Polish society, including increasing secularization.