Editor
This is a BBC commemoration of the life and times of one of the most beloved pontiffs in history. Narrated by Geoffrey Palmer, it is a fitting tribute to a man whose mission above all was to proclaim the joy of faith in a troubled world. He arrived at the Vatican an unknown Polish cardinal and became one of the most towering figures in modern history. All the triumphs and trials of his extraordinary Papacy are here: from his election to the Holy See through his exhaustive world travels, from the shocking attempt on his life and his heroic role in ending Communism. Includes exclusive footage from the only television interview granted after Pope John Paul II was elected to the papacy.
