His Holiness Pope John Paul II, né Karol Józef Wojtyla (born May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland), the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church died in Rome on April 2. He was elected on October 16, 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first pope of Slavic origin in the history of the Church.
His more than 100 trips abroad attracted enormous crowds and he is credited with contributing to the fall of communism in eastern Europe, including his beloved Poland.
John Paul II Biography Karol Józef Wojtyla , known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. More
CNN Special How a boy from small-town Poland grew up to become pope and, in the opinion of some, "the man of the century." More
John Paul II: The Millennial Page How a boy from small-town Poland grew up to become pope and, in the opinion of some, "the man of the century." More
Peace and the pope As one of earth's tireless pilgrims, Pope John Paul II rightly will be remembered for going where the world's people live and worship More
Commentary: Remembering shared moments with Pope John Paul II From the afternoon of his first large public appearance as pope, on Oct. 22, 1978, before several hundred thousand people in St. Peter's Square-an occasion viewed on live television worldwide-to a visit in the Vatican in early March 2003, I was privileged to be with Pope John Paul II on at least two dozen separate occasions. More
Pope John Paul II John Paul II may be best remembered as a charismatic public man, pastor to the world, carrying his message of hope and human dignity to 129 countries. He was seen in person by more people than anyone else in history. But this is how John Paul may be best understood — through his interior life of prayer and scholarship. More
Pope's Health Crisis The Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J. talks with Kim Lawton about the doubts and uncertainty being created by the curtailed role of the pope and the dilemma his failing health poses for the Vatican. More
POPE JOHN PAUL II: 25 Years of Service Five people who have worked with the pope offer personal reflections. Article appeared in the October 2003 edition of St. Anthony Messenger. More
Pope's Health Pope John Paul II wrapped up his pilgrimage to Slovakia this past week, but his obvious physical frailty throughout the trip has set off a new round of questions about the state of his health and the future of his papacy. More
Pope Youth Day Rally Review
It was just, like, chaos. Everyone was just, like, going crazy. All these thousands of people were so excited by this, like, tiny little man who just has this wonderful power to make people so loving and so happy. More
Religious Significance of Pope's Trip to Holy Land With Middle East politics complicating his every step, Pope John Paul II this week fulfilled his dream of a personal millennial pilgrimage to the most sacred sites of biblical history. More
