| Pope John Paul II | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Kent Harrison |
| Written by | John Kent Harrison |
| Starring | Jon Voight Cary Elwes James Cromwell Ben Gazzara Christopher Lee |
| Distributed by | CBS |
| Release date(s) | December 4 & 7, 2005 (USA) |
| Running time | 200 min (2 parts) |
| Language | English |
Pope John Paul II is a 2005 television miniseries dramatizing the life of Pope John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła) from his early adult years in Poland to his death on April 2, 2005 at age 84.
The film was written and directed by John Kent Harrison and aired in the United States on the CBS network on December 4, 2005. It was first released in Vatican City on November 17, 2005 and ten days later throughout Italy.
Cary Elwes portrays Karol Wojtyla from the second scene (September, 1939) of the film up to his election to the papacy on October 16, 1978 after the sudden death of Pope John Paul I, whose pontificate lasted just 33 days. After accepting the nomination of the Cardinalate, Elwes is seen being escorted to be fitted in papal vestments, at which point Academy Award-winner Jon Voight takes over the role. Voight was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance.
Pope John Paul II co-stars James Cromwell, as Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha, Ben Gazzara, as Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, and Christopher Lee as Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. Polish actor Mikolaj Grabowski is twice seen playing Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who succeeded Pope John Paul II as pope on April 19, 2005
Pope John Paul II, begins with the May 1981 assassination attempt, then flashbacks to the young Karol "Lolek" Wojtyla whose faith and values are initially fostered by his loving, devout parents, who, along with Karol's elder brother, die of natural causes by the time Karol is 20 years old.
Despite being on his own at a young age and enduring the effects of the Nazi occupation in Poland, the philosophical Karol remains optimistic that he can and must make a difference. Along with his university friends, Karol initially embraces the world of theatre, acting in clandestine plays as a means of retaining his Polish culture in spite of the risks involved. In the midst of the chaos surrounding him as ongoing atrocities are suffered by Polish Jews, academics, religious leaders and others, Karol accepts a calling to become a priest. Karol's training takes place in an underground seminary run by the Archbishop Sapieha, a defiant force for the people of Krakow under the Nazi occupation, who becomes Karol's mentor and involves the young man in the resistance movement.
After being ordained a priest by Sapieha, now a Cardinal, Karol completes his graduate studies in Rome and returns to Poland, where he is assigned to become a student chaplain at St. Florian's parish in Krakow. The athletic 28-year-old Fr. Karol Wojtyla immediately bonds with the university students who savor his relaxed approach and join him to kayak to his inspiring Masses in the wilderness away from the watchful eyes of the Communist authorities. He was then appointed Professor of Social Ethics at Catholic University of Lublin, Poland and then when Karol is only 38-years-old, the Holy See appoints him Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow. Continuing to cultivate faith with the people, despite the restrictions imposed by the Communist leaders, Karol chooses to hold Mass in an open area in the Communists' new Polish church-free city, Nowa Huta. Although he repeatedly enrages the Communist authorities, he impresses influential foreign cardinals with his views, his charisma and his knowledge of multiple languages.
At 47, Karol is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. On October 16, 1978, following the brief reign of Pope John Paul I and after 455 years of Italian popes, Karol is elected Pope and takes the name John Paul II at the age of 58. During his extremely active papal years, most of which take place after he survives a 1981 assassination attempt, John Paul II takes part in international negotiations and presses the Soviet rulers to remove obstacles to freedom of religion in the countries under their control. He travels across the globe to promote faith, values, peace, forgiveness, and, especially in countries lacking it, freedom of religion. He confronts constitutional anti-clericalism in Mexico in January, 1979, asks for forgiveness and brotherhood with the Jewish people and reaches out to the world's Catholic youth.
During John Paul II's first pilgrimage to Poland in June, 1979, he ushers in an era of hope that motivates the Polish people and their Solidarity leadership (formed 1980) to eventually bring a hard-fought end to Communist rule there. This passion ultimately spreads throughout the rest of the East bloc as well.
Despite health obstacles in later years, John Paul II refused to curtail his busy schedule. He continued to challenge and inspire millions of people throughout his lengthy illness and during his last days.