Pope John Paul II: 1920-2005

Look at the life of the beloved and controversial cleric who led the Vatican for more than 25 years

MAINTAINING HOPE

During an October 1995 trip to the U.S., the Pope (with President Bill Clinton, top) spoke before the United Nations, saying he was hopeful for the 21st century because there is a "universal moral law written on the human heart." He became the first pontiff to visit Albania in April 1993 (with Mother Teresa, bottom), where he condemned recent acts of ethnic cleansing in nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina.