Unquestionably, Pope John Paul was the first, if not part of the first Anti Soviet salvo in Poland, followed closely by the ship yard worker's revolt. At the same time, the Gipper pressed America's advantage in technology and the Rooski's came tumbling down.
If either of ya'll are interested in learning more about the Pope, I highly recommend
Witness to Hope. It fully explains his background, and how he came to his present theological conclusions. It's not for the faint of reading, however; it's over 1,000 pages long.
I'm Catholic and do not worship the Pope at all. The Pope is only a man, and he will make mistakes; I don't agree with him on everything. That said, I admire PJPII beyond words. He has led a most incredible and holy life, and his faith in God is the core of who he is.