John Paul II at a meeting with pilgrims at Jasna Gora Monastery during his first visit to Poland as Pope.

As the Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla earned the sympathy of young people, academics and intelectuals. He attracted even those who did not belong to the Catholic Church. On October 16, 1978 he was elected to the papacy, which was received in Poland with great celebration as a reward for years of humiliation and persecution. Although this was a big problem for the Communist Party, the authorities were unable to prevent John Paul II from visiting his homeland. In June 1979, the Polish Pope arrived on his first visit to Poland, gathering around him millions of his fellow Poles, who saw the chance to seem him in person not only as a manifestation of faith, but also as an opportunity to demonstrate that they wanted to live in a free country. The Poles realized that they were a force that could assert its rights.