The Acting Person

work by John Paul II

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July 16, 2026

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The Acting Person is a philosophical work by Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, published in 1969. The book argues that authentic personality is formed through moral actions, not just thoughts or statements. Wojtyła, as the cardinal archbishop of Kraków, demonstrated this principle by defying communist authorities to build a church in the new suburb of Nowa Huta, holding masses and processions there despite being denied permission. This work is considered his major philosophical contribution, emphasizing the significance of deeds in defining an individual's character.1

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St. John Paul II
Actions as cardinal
…written his major philosophical work, The Acting Person (1969), which argues that moral actions—not simply thoughts or statements—create authentic personality and define what a person truly stands for.
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…written his major philosophical work, The Acting Person (1969), which argues that moral actions—not simply thoughts or statements—create authentic personality and define what a person truly stands for.
Read More