Pope John Paul II reigned from October 6, 1978 to April 2, 2005, changing the role of the pope and the world in many ways. During his reign, which was the second longest pontificate of all time, Pope John Paul II played a crucial role in the collapse of communism in Europe (cnn.com, Gilgoff). After his election, Pope John Paul II returned to his native Poland, then under communist rule. He sought to end communism in Poland. He repeatedly told the Polish people to "don't give up", sparking a revolution in Poland that ultimately led to its freedom in 1989. Pope John Paul II also spread Catholicism by appealing to a younger generation . He has reached thousands of young people while traveling around the world on tours. By reaching out to the world's youth, Pope John Paul II gave Catholicism a better future (worldyouthday.com). Eventually, Pope John Paul II made the pope a celebrity figure during his reign. He gained celebrity status by frequently speaking to the public. He also often speaks out on different political or social situations, which makes him more popular with the public. John Paul II had a great influence not only within the Church but throughout the world. He influenced the end of communism in Europe, developed Catholicism by reaching out to young people and made the pope a famous figure. Pope John Paul II was born as Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. His love for religion came from his father who was a devout Catholic. In 1946 he was ordained and then, in 1958, became bishop of Ombi. Then, in 1964, he became archbishop of Krakow, one of the oldest cities in his native Poland. After the brief reign of the Church of Pope John Paul I, Karol Wojtyla was chosen as pope in 1978. He was the first...... middle of paper ...... large-scale exposure . Pope John Paul II left a lasting impact on the world. He played a key role in liberating Eastern Europe from communism, strengthened the Catholic Church by reaching out to young people and making the pope a famous figure. He liberated Europe from communism by inspiring a revolution in Poland. When other countries saw Poland liberated, they followed suit and fought for their freedom. By reaching out to young people through World Youth Day, he spread Catholicism and created a solid foundation for the future of Catholicism. Ultimately, by making the Pope a famous figure, he gave the Catholic religion great exposure and helped it gain visibility around the world. Without Pope John Paul II, the world could be very different. Europe might still have communist nations, there might be a lack of interest in the Catholic religion and many people would be less aware of Catholicism..