Pope John Paul II

18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła, was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 1978 until his death in 2005. The first non-Italian pope in 455 years, he played a significant role in world affairs, was widely credited with helping end communism in Central and Eastern Europe, and was canonized as a saint in 2014.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Pope John Paul II.

Life events

Born in Wadowice, Poland
18 May 1920

Born Karol Józef Wojtyła in the town of Wadowice.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ordained a Catholic priest
1 November 1946

Ordained to the priesthood in Kraków after clandestine seminary study during the war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed Archbishop of Kraków
1964

Became archbishop of Kraków, later elevated to cardinal.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Elected Pope
16 October 1978

Elected the 264th pope, the first non-Italian pontiff in over four centuries.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Undertook extensive international pilgrimages
1979 – 2004

Traveled to more than 120 countries during his pontificate.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Supported the Solidarity movement in Poland
1980

Provided moral support to Poland's Solidarity movement, aiding the fall of communism.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Survived an assassination attempt
13 May 1981

Shot and severely wounded in St. Peter's Square by Mehmet Ali Ağca.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at the Vatican
2 April 2005

Died in the Apostolic Palace after a long illness.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Canonized as a saint
27 April 2014

Declared a saint of the Catholic Church by Pope Francis in 2014.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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