Pope John Paul II is a poet, playwright, actor, mystic, philosopher, and pope. shaped by the terrors of World War II and the subsequent brutalities of the Communist era in Poland, Karol Wojtyla became one of the worldís great defenders of religious freedom and human rights. Filmed on location in Krakow and Rome, this richly-textured documentary traces the personal life and struggles of the first non-Italian pope in more than 450 years. Based on the book Witness to Hope by George Weigel, this film is the most complete and intimate film ever made on Pope John Paul II.