Pope John Paul II was born in Wadowice, Poland. His Slavic heritage inspired his effort to promote greater understanding between nations and religions, leading him to make numerous trips abroad. During these trips he spoke out against political oppression and criticized the materialism of the West.
Pope St. John Paul II also issues several apologies to religious groups who had been wronged by the Roman Catholic Church in the past, including Jews and Muslims.
He emphasized nonviolent political activism and aided in the Solidarity movement in communicst Poland in the 1980s. Eventually, this movement contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.