John Paul II (Pope)

Karol Józef Wojtyła, born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, was ordained a priest in 1946, then appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958, and archbishop in 1964. Made a cardinal in 1967, he was elected pope on October 16, 1978, taking the name John Paul II. His pontificate, one of the longest in history (26 years and 5 months), was characterized by a strong media presence, intense dialogue with other religions and cultures, and a major role in promoting human rights and the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe. He instituted the World Youth Days and published numerous encyclicals and apostolic letters. Having survived an assassination attempt in 1981, he continued his ministry until his death on April 2, 2005. He was beatified in 2011 and canonized on April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis.