Pope John Paul, II

Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005) was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. Appointed in 1978, he was the youngest pontiff in 132 years and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Fluent in eight languages he was a champion of human rights whose greatest hope was to help create a world where all people live in freedom and plenitude.

Pope John Paul II (1920 - 2005) was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. Appointed in 1978, he was the youngest pontiff in 132 years and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Fluent in eight languages he was a champion of human rights whose greatest hope was to help create a world where all people live in freedom and plenitude. See less