St. John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, was the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years and served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. He was a gifted student and athlete, deeply affected by the tragedies of World War II and the Nazi occupation of Poland. After the war, he was ordained a priest in 1946 and rose steadily through the ranks of the Church, becoming Archbishop of Kraków in 1964 and a cardinal in 1967.

 

Elected pope in 1978, John Paul II became one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He was known for his charismatic presence, strong stance against communism—playing a significant role in the fall of the Iron Curtain—and his promotion of human rights and dignity. He also worked to improve interfaith relations, particularly with Jews and Muslims, and traveled extensively, visiting more countries than any of his predecessors.

 

John Paul II survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and forgave his attacker, demonstrating his commitment to mercy and reconciliation. Despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease in his later years, he remained active in his papal duties until his death on April 2, 2005. He was canonized a saint in 2014. His legacy includes a wealth of theological writings, global outreach, and a deep commitment to the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person.