"Today, for the first time in history, a Bishop of Rome sets foot on English soil. This fair land, once a distant outpost of the pagan world, has become, through the preaching of the Gospel, a beloved and gifted portion of Christ's vineyard."
Pope John Paul II led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005 and was one of the longest-serving modern popes. He played a major global role in late 20th-century religious and political life.