Description
In 1979, Pope John Paul II visited Poland and was greeted by massive crowds of Poles demanding to worship God. These crowds, in part for want of religious freedom, later contributed to the Solidarity movement that overturned the Communist government of Poland. This set the stage for the collapse of the Berlin Wall and then the fall of the Soviet Union.
Source
Bernstein, Richard. "Did John Paul Help Win the Cold War? Just Ask the Poles." Accessed 10 February 2014. 6 April 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/06/international/worldspecial2/06communism.html?_r=0
Noonan, Peggy. "'We Want God.'" Accessed 10 February 2014. 7 April 2005 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB122479408458463941
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pastoral_visits_of_Pope_John_Paul_II_outside_Italy (for image)