In early 2000, Pope John Paul II surprise many people by apologizing for the historic sins of Catholic involvement in the holocaust, crusades and inquisition and for the sins against women in the poor

In early 2000, Pope John Paul II surprise many people by apologizing for the historic sins of Catholic involvement in the holocaust, crusades and inquisition and for the sins against women in the poor. What are the possible sociological reasons for this statement by him?