THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — Pope John Paul II, whose far-flung travels usually have been a triumph of his personel prestige and popularity, will ... of the Second Vatican Council two decades ago, and the current Pope is viewed by many Dutch church members as a man of archaic theological ideas. read more
The conservatism of the Vatican had become anathema to many of the Dutch. Many inside and outside of the church had protest in mind from the moment of the 1983 announcement of the upcoming visit. John Paul II's days in Holland would be unlike the typical celebration. read more