European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 17, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wily Magazine Pope John Paul ii Wes the ground at the Airport in port of Spain Trinidad. The step we part of a 12-Day latin american Lour in 19ss. Jts of ,.,/j Yew j \ by Victor  associated press pm years ago. Karol Wojtyla of Krakow. Poland assumed the papacy ushering in a decade of activism Hal has seen Popo John Paul ii travel the world attempt to bring an unruly lock Inlo Itna and Sutler the Jol of schism in the ranks since soiling out Lor the dominican Republic and Mexico three months Allor assuming the papacy 10 years ago John Paul has made 39 a reign pilgrimages stopping in 7s countries. He has drawn the adm Nalion of Many As he assumes the role of a world Leader on matters of peace and social Justice speaking Oul on causes ranging from the rights of latin american peasants to the plight of palestinians. He has ats Upsel Many roman catholics in Iho United slates and ols whore by his consistent doctrinal conservatism. No Pope has Ever travelled so much and delivered so Many speeches embarking on a path to prepare his Church for the next Century when the Vatican expects there wiil be billion roman catholics in a world. The 10 years have allowed the Pope to place like minded conservatives in hey dioceses and in the curia the Church s control administration and to put his people into the College of cardinals which serves As an advisory body and elects his successor. From the Vatican there have been crackdowns on dissent the censuring of several prominent theologians. Among North american and Western european catholics have been signs of alienation and a Leuling among some women that John Paul is unsympathetic to their aspirations. The Pope was particularly upset when traditionalist French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre ordained new Bishops on Juno 30 without his approval provoking the first significant schism in the Church in More than a Century. The Pope was described As deeply pained and Bishops asked catholics o rally around him. Wounded in an assassination All Empl seven years ago and now 68. John Paul has perhaps stowed Down a step. He of ten appears tired and drawn although Vatican optic its insist he s lost none of his drive to set Down his vision of Iho Church. To say As  have Hal Tho present Bishop of Rome does nol understand the Church in the United Stales or in other parts of the free world is nol to condemn him the Rev. Richard a Mcbrien a University at notre Dame theologian said in a comment published in a 19bb anthology the in Urcer in anguish. He seems to assume that the Only Elf Clive Way to combat our common enemies in today s world atheism and materialism is through a completely United Irani no dissent no Public quarrelling no breaking from the ranks the year 197h. The year of the three Popes saw the death of Paul i after a 15-year-papacy and the death of his successor John Paul i. Alter Only 33 Days. Then on oct 16, the cardinals elected archbishop Karol Wojtyla of Krakow As 1he first non italian pontiff in 455 years and the first pole Ever. At 58, Young Tor a Pope and coming ram a communist country where the Church has traditionally been a second Center of Power Karol Wojtyra seemed the Ideal Man to head a growing Church still in turmoil from the changes initiated by the second Vatican Council and battling the Challenge of marxism. He has pursued his goals energetically end encouraged his Bishops to do likewise whether through an unsuccessful attempt in 1981 to overturn Italy s Law allowing abortions or the successful Effort to permit his meeting with political opposition leaders in Paraguay last june. John Paul lays the Church has an obligation to speak out on moral issues but that priests and nuns have no business in partisan politics. Throughout the decade. John Paul has been critical of both Liberal capias smart marxism collectivism. Among his visions is a Europe United by its common Christian roots. The Vatican s attempt to pursue its Agenda in Eastern Europe appeared to Sutler a setback when John Paul was wounded by a turkish gunman May 13, 1981. There were allegations never proven that the shooting was inspired by the soviet Union to halt John Paul s support Lor the Independent Solidarity labor movement in Poland. But with Mikhail Gorbachev leading the soviet Union relations Between the soviets and the Vatican have improved to the Point where the Vatican sent a senior delegation to Moscow this year Tor the Celebration of a major religious Evert by the orthodox Church. There has even been talk of a papal visit to the soviet Union although nothing immediate is expected. Another focus has been latin America where to has sought to Weed out marxism liberation theology by Church activists while seeking to counter inroads made monday. October 17, 1988 by protestant sects. Nine of the Pope s 39 trips have been to latin America reflecting Vatican interest in a Region expected to include half the world s catholics by the year 2000. The Vatican estimates that catholics now number 850 million worldwide. John Paul has repeatedly stressed the Church s option or the poor but has refused to tolerate the More openly political liberation theology its such As Brazil s Leonardo Boll who in 1985 was punished Wilh 0 your of obedient silence for criticizing whal to called tha Church s Feudal  Cardinal Gaufo Evaristo ams of san Paulo Brazil a leading human rights advocate and a sort of Patron of liberation  in the world s largest Catholic country has praised Tho Pope Lor encouraging Church leaders to work Tor greater social Equality. In Brazil where Iho abyss Between the Rich and poor is immense where Traditi onary the elites rules Wilh scandalous egotism the words of the Pope have encouraged Bishops priests and laymen in a common struggle Tor a new society marked by signs of Faith of Hope and of fraternity Arns said in an interview. The Pope has reached out Frej Henlly to other Christian denominations and religions convening a Multi Faith prayer session in assist Italy in october 1986. But he has said that the ordination of women in the anglican Church poses an obstacle to Church Unity and has angered jews by receiving Plo loader Yasser Arafat and meeting with austrian president Kur Waldhelm who has been linked to nazi War crimes. It is often said that Pope John xxi breathed new life into the Church by calling Iho second Vatican Council 1962-65, that produced major changes in the Liturgy the Church s relations with other religions and its View 01 its role in the world if John s successor. Pope Paul i was seen As troubled by doubts and inclined to Compromise. John Paul ii steers the Church Wilh obvious self Assurance. A close aide to the Pope told this Story to describe How John Paul runs his Church this summer while on vacation in the italian Alps John Paul indicated he wanted to climb a narrow risky Trail to reach a Cross planted atop a Peak. He sounded Oul his aides who a advised against the climb but decided to do it anyway. It s not thai he to Tocsin listen to advice. Birl once he makes up his mind nothing can change it said the aide who asked Hal his name not be used. Although Vatican officials dismiss the suggestion that the Pope has liitle interest in the  Western societies the Vatican is a Caily counting on Tho Church s growth in Iho less developed nations Vatican figures show Lor example that most of the increases among seminarians Are in the third world. Africa is one area the Vatican is counting on Tor such growth and the Pope has made several trips to that continent John Paul has twice visited the United slates. The 1987 pilgrimage allowed Lor candid criticism from the ranks but the Pope was a nudging and made it Clear that it Wasa grave error to Betel dissent from Church teaching was compatible with being a Good Catholic. Preparing Lor the future the Vatican expects 1 billion catholics in the world t y 2000. The stars and stripes Page 13