Mark Power The Old Town, Warsaw, Poland. April 8, 2005.
“In 1978, the College of Cardinals elected the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century. Remarkably, they chose a man from behind the Iron Curtai
(...) n instead, ordaining Karol Wojtyła (b. Wadowice, Poland, 1920) as John Paul II.
John Paul celebrated Mass in Warsaw during his first papal visit to Poland in 1979. Lech Wałęsa, the founder of Solidarność (Solidarity) and the first post-Communist President of Poland later claimed Poles were given the courage to demand change by these words: 'Let your Spirit descend and change the image of the land… this land’.
John Paul’s death provoked an outpouring of grief in Poland. Huge screens were erected across Warsaw to enable hundreds of thousands to watch the requiem mass broadcast live from the Vatican, where the greatest number of heads of state present at any funeral were present: four kings, five queens, at least 70 presidents and prime ministers, and more than 14 leaders of other religions.
John Paul was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. Advances in telecommunications ensured he was the most recognisable pope in history, so it seemed appropriate to photograph this momentous event as it was: a television broadcast.”
– Mark Power © Mark Power | Magnum Photos
