In 1984, Pope John Paul II visited Sorok Island off of South Korea, which was once a leper colony and still contained hundreds of lepers, to give a speech on the meaning of suffering. After following protocol and delivering the speech, a cardinal attempted to speed him along so they could get out of there, but John Paul brushed him aside. Deciding to act on the words he had just spoken, he approached every single person in the audience and kissed each one as a blessing.
His photographer, Arturo Mari, recalls the scene saying it was evident God was working through him. “He touched them with his hands, caressed them, kissed each one. Eight hundred lepers, one by one…I guarantee he was a living saint.” Few popes in history have been as popular as John Paul II at the time of their death. He has been named one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century and called instrumental in ending communism throughout Europe.
His message was constantly one of love and understanding and he helped improve the relationship between the Catholic Church, Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Church. He has currently been beatified and is on track to sainthood.