The Planter of Crosses: The Life and Death of John Paul II

�The Planter of Crosses�: The Life and Death of John Paul II

My title is taken from an article written by Charles Colson. The story of the Pope's part was originally published in his book Kingdoms in Conflict. Here is an excerpt from the article linked above:

This Pope was not only the spiritual leader of one billion Roman Catholics; he was also one of the handful of world leaders most responsible for bringing down Communism.

His political journey began in the town of Nowa Huta , Poland, designed as a living monument to communist utopianism. When the people demanded a church, a Polish priest and a few workers nailed together two rugged beams as a makeshift cross, marking the site of the chapel they would build.

The communists angrily tore it down. But when the sun rose the next morning, another cross had been raised in its place.

This went on for years as the people gathered at their cross, singing and celebrating Communion. The people’s faith became strong as steel. In the end, they got their church. And the man who was planting the crosses? Karol Wojtyla, later bishop of Krakow, and still later elected the first non-Italian Pope in 450 years.

When Stalin was once told that the Pope (of his day) would defy him, the communist tyrant jeeringly asked, “And how many divisions does the Pope have?” Years later, when the Soviets threatened to send troops in to quell a Polish uprising, Pope John Paul II announced he would return home to stand with his people.

The Soviet tanks never moved. Who had the most divisions?

I also recommend this fantastic article from the current issue of the New Yorker.