Pope John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was the first non-Italian pope in more than 450 years, and he served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was widely regarded as one of the most influential religious leaders of the 20th century.
After studying theology in Krakow, Wojtyła was ordained as a priest in 1946. He later earned a doctorate in theology and began teaching at the Catholic University of Lublin. He was appointed Archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and became a cardinal in 1967.
As Pope, John Paul II was known for his conservative views on social issues such as abortion, homosexuality, and contraception. He was also a strong advocate for human rights and played a major role in bringing about the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
During his papacy, John Paul II made more than 100 foreign trips and was known for his charismatic personality and ability to connect with people from all walks of life. He was also known for his efforts to build bridges between different religions, and he made history by becoming the first pope to visit a synagogue and a mosque.
In 1981, John Paul II was the victim of an assassination attempt in St. Peter's Square. He was critically wounded but survived, and later met with his would-be assassin in prison to forgive him.
John Paul II was also known for his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his promotion of the Rosary. He was a prolific writer and published numerous books and encyclicals on a wide range of topics, including social justice, spirituality, and the role of women in the church.
John Paul II's health began to deteriorate in the early 2000s, and he suffered from Parkinson's disease in his later years. He died on April 2, 2005, at the age of 84. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2014.
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