St. John Paul II, original name Karol Józef Wojtyła, was born May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland and died April 2, 2005, Vatican City.
Beatified May 1, 2011; canonised April 27, 2014; feast day October 22,.
The bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church (1978–2005). He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first from a Slavic country. His pontificate of more than 26 years was the third longest in history. As part of his effort to promote greater understanding between nations and between religions, he undertook numerous trips abroad, travelling far greater distances than had all other popes combined, and he extended his influence beyond the church by campaigning against political oppression and criticising the materialism of the West.
St. John Paul II. (2019). In Encyclopædia Britannica.
