European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 03, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Not afraid of saying unpopular things when White smoke curled from the makeshift Chimney atop the vat ican s sistine Chapel on oct. 16,1978, announcing the election of anew Pope it foretold what had been nearly unthinkable. The cardinals had chosen the first non italian Pope in Caily five centuries. They had in fact chosen a pole. National Confidence increased dramatically As did the belief that major political change was now inevitable wrote Oscar Halicki in a history of Poland. Indeed communism in All of Eastern Europe fell Over the next 13 years and Pope John Paul ii is credited by Many with influencing the collapse. The Rev. Jerzy Dziewonski spokesman for the Church in Krakow that the Pope once led As Arch Bishop said the installation of a polish Pope was a gift to the polish people remuneration for people who Felt betrayed by the Western allies after world War ii. I in s a person who makes peace in the world he said. He fights for peace. He fights. Persuasion by prayer. That s his  the installation of Karol Wojtyla hastened the fall of communism Dziewonski said Anco lie quoted a statement from former soviet . Gorbachev who said the same thing. I think he has been very Brave " the i inst said of the Pope Lio visited communist countries to denounce communism As contrary to human rights. He  t trying to be Nice to the governments who hosted him he said. _ he s not afraid of saying unpopular  even now and even Here the Pope Sas unpopular things. Poles favor Legal abortions for example which the Pope still never and can never support. But he remains a Leader for poles 95 percent of whom Are Catholic. Ass Carlos Bong annl the Warwel Church along the Vistula River was Home for Pope John Paul ii when he was archbishop of krak6w. The Pope is still i think the strongest authority to polish people said Lukasz Tischner assistant Cal Tor of Znak a journal of the cology culture and philosophy. And there arc those who disagree with their american Brethren who fault the Pope Lor being too conservative. In the Field of Justice i would a he is extremely progressive said Jerzy Turowicz founder and Edi Tor of to Godnik  a Catholic weekly. He was referring to human Rit hts to erty peace and social Justice. I think Here he is much More Pio Grossie than his  the Church has lost some influence Here since communism s fall and some catholics arc picking and choosing which lessons from the Church they wish to follow a form of cafeteria catholicism found among americans of the Church. But John Paul ii remains their Pope the Leader of their Church and one of them popular despite the Church s diminished influence. Is Carlos Bonglo annl Jerzy Dziewonski said that the installation of a polish Pope was a gift to the polish people. Is Carlos Bongioanni the Church in Wadowicz Poland where John Paul ii attended As a Bov. Of course it can be sturd we Nie nut totally objective us id Turowicz. We think we know him and understand him bet  i Uro Tkv knows him better than nest poles. They Hac been friends since the Pope then a Oung i test submitted an article Jotun my a Magazine in now  just happened to be in Rome when his Friend was tabbed by the cardinals to follow Pope John  i who died after just 33 Dass in the Post. When i heard that he Jisi elected i was very Happy of course he said. I in became a fixture on italian in lev Ision explain ing his to ind and countryman who  unknown to most of the Catholic world. If he did not become Bishop and Pope he would be a professor at the University he said. He is an  despite John Paul s nearly 17y is is Pope some Corners of the Church have never fully accepted a pole in the leadership position tin a ski joked that the italian pie is Happy to report  the Pope s health. And other Western europeans  unable to see past this Pope s nationality. A Iwonski does t understand that attitude. Of tie is a Universal Pope he said citing for an example the extensive travel   in the name of the Church. In his preaching there is not i of a sign of his being polish he said. The Pope has a Strong veneration for the Virgin Mary Pewonski  this is not being polish inv pries said. " this in Wing  John Paul ii Shook off his polish cloak when he chose his name Dziewonski said. ---.--._. Q some in Poland  Pope should have taken Stanislas i As his papal name. Instead he took the name of his predecessor this Pope Dziewonski said pc has speaking to catholics everywhere teaches the is of the Bible. He does not change his lesson to suit an Audi ence or a situation. The Bible the priest said is the Pope s Guidebook for everything. This is not unique to the Man now in the Vatican. This is the Christian Faith he Vul j. Ron Jensen e 6 sunday septembers 1s95