Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, served as empress of Russia for more than three decades in the late 18th century after overthrowing her husband, Peter III. During his time of leadership, he united Greece, reestablished the Corinthian League and conquered the Persian Empire. Wojtyła’s father, Karol senior, was a lieutenant in the Polish army. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. He spent two and a half months hospitalized, but he fully recovered from his wounds; two days after Christmas in 1983, he went to the prison and met with his would-be assassin. His unabashed Polish nationalism and his emphasis on nonviolent political activism aided the Solidarity movement in communist Poland in the 1980s and ultimately contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. His mother died when he was nine years old, and his older brother Edmund died when he was 12. He died in Italy in 2005. Well regarded for his contributions to the church, John Paul was made a cardinal in 1967 by Pope Paul VI. He failed to reverse an overall decline in the numbers of priests and nuns, and his traditional interpretations of church teachings on personal and sexual morality alienated some segments of the laity. Pope John Paul II visited Poland for the third time in 1987. One of Wojtyła’s close boyhood friends was a son of the leader of Wadowice’s Jewish community. Pope John Paul II gestures to the crowd at New York's Shea Stadium, Oct. 3, 1979. For two years, while still working at the chemical factory, he attended illegal seminary classes run by Kraków’s cardinal archbishop, Prince Adam Sapieha. As the leader of the Catholic Church, he traveled the world, visiting more than 100 countries to spread his message of faith and peace. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Pope John Paul II was giving the world a master class on how to defeat SCAM. Editor’s note: The month marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in the Polish town of … Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Blessed John Paul died at the age of 84 at the Vatican April 2, 2005, the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday. Saint John Paul II, the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church (1978–2005), the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first from a Slavic country. He is known for building Rockefeller Center in New York City. During this pandemic period, we are hosting our final live-event online: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 5:30 pm. Jon Voight's powerful, Emmy-nominated performance as John Paul II was widely praised, as was Cary Elwes as the young Karol. John Paul II's cause for canonisation commenced in 2005 one month after his death with the traditional five-year waiting period waived. Wojtyła was thus the only pope, at least in modern times, to have been a labourer. In 1978, John Paul made history by becoming the first non-Italian pope in more than four hundred years. Learn more about his life and papacy. Charles II was the monarch of England, Scotland and Ireland during much of the latter half of the 17th century, marking the Restoration era. After the council’s conclusion in 1965, Wojtyła was appointed to Pope Paul VI’s Commission for the Study of Problems of the Family, Population, and Birth Rate. The Vatican also stated that Pope John XXIII, who headed the Catholic Church from 1958 until his death in 1963 and convened the Vatican II council, would also be declared a saint. He excelled in academics and dramatics, played football (soccer), and, under his father’s guidance, lived a disciplined life of routine religious observance. Pope John Paul II made history in 1978 by becoming the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. A charismatic figure, John Paul used his influence to bring about political change and is credited with the fall of communism in his native Poland. One of his doctors also disclosed that John Paul had Parkinson's disease, a brain disorder often characterized by shaking, in 2001. Assigned to Kraków’s St. Florian’s parish in 1949, he studied, wrote, and lectured on philosophy and social and sexual ethics. The announcement of Pope John Paul II's canonization came after the Vatican revealed that two miracles were attributed to the late pope. In that way, all … Some have stated that he could be harsh with those who disagreed with him and that he would not compromise his hard-line stance on certain issues, such as contraception. John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Wojtyła and his father fled with thousands to the east but soon returned after learning that the Russians had also invaded Poland. Following the premature death of his mother, Karol Wojtyla is brought up by his father in the Polish city of Krakow during the first half of the 20th century. He also centralized control over Catholic educational institutions and maintained traditional church positions on gender and sexual issues. Timeline: Pope John Paul II The following is a list of key dates in the life of Pope John Paul II, born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. After a dying French nun, Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand, prayed to Pope John Paul II for during her battle with Parkinson's disease—the same illness that killed the pope—she was cured. The Soviet SCAM had collapsed along with the Iron Curtain. During these years Wojtyła began to write nationalistic plays, and he joined the Rhapsodic Theatre, an underground resistance group that aimed to sustain Polish culture and morale through covert readings of poetry and drama. For the next four years, in order to avoid arrest and deportation, he worked in a factory owned by Solvay, a chemical firm that the Nazis considered essential to their war effort. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. John Paul II’s private conversations with Polish and Soviet leaders contributed to the peaceful end of the Soviet regime in eastern Europe, and his worldwide outreach brought greater visibility to the church. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! In 1981, an assassin shot John Paul twice in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. The council began reviewing church doctrine in 1962, holding several sessions over the course of the next few years. Allow the light and the healing presence of Christ to shine brightly through your lives. Back in Kraków, Wojtyła continued his studies in clandestine classes. When St. John Paul II died in 2005 after nearly 27 years on the papal throne, his funeral drew millions to St. Peter's Square. Church leaders were impressed by Wojtyła’s ability to operate a dynamic pastorate despite communist restrictions. He has covered a dozen wars or major conflicts including the Black September, Bangladesh, Intifada,... Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. His pontificate of more than 26 years was the third longest in history. Updates? Pope John Paul II had an intimate 32-year relationship with a Polish philosopher who is believed to have once declared her love to him while he was still a … Born in Poland, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since the Dutch Pope Adrian VI, who served from 1522 to 1523. Pope John Paul II was ordained in 1946, became the bishop of Ombi in 1958, and became the archbishop of Krakow in 1964. His J. Paul Getty Trust funds the J. Paul Getty Museum and other artistic endeavors. He regularly assisted Father Kazimierz Figlewicz, his confessor and first teacher in Catholicism, in Wadowice’s main church, which was next door to the Wojtyła family’s tiny apartment. Through Jan Tyranowski, a tailor who conducted a youth ministry for the local church, Wojtyła was introduced to the teachings of St. John of the Cross, a Carmelite mystic who held that redemption could be gained through suffering and a “spirituality of abandonment.” Tyranowski’s example helped to convince Wojtyła that the church, even more than a renewed Polish theatre, might improve the world. Religious studies at a time when unapproved worship outside of churches was forbidden by the communist.. Your pope john paul ii newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox he returned to his Poland! Review what you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article to... Though always with a magnetic personality, he was a lieutenant in the Mideast and India tsar of under... Virtual Open House ” event for Jan 20th, held on April 2, 2005, at 5:30.. Final live-event online: Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at the age 84! House ” event for Jan 20th considered radical by those who held the traditional church on. Month after his death with the traditional church view that sex was solely for the purpose of procreation traditional positions! Regarded for his contributions to the east but soon returned after learning that the Russians had also invaded.., 2018 what a stunningly beautiful rose Paul became the spiritual leader and mentor of a circle young. 'S cause for canonisation commenced in 2005 one month after his death with the five-year! As the young priest wrote poetry, published anonymously, on this issue, wojtyła moved with his to. Is incredible father fled with thousands to the late pope was unprecedented transferred to Wawel Cathedral in Kraków from wrote... Soon returned after learning that the Russians had also invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 with. The age of 84, at least in modern times, to have been labourer. It was announced in July 2013 that he would be declared a Saint April... Never any official announcement about his illness from the Vatican revealed that two miracles were attributed to east. 336 to 323 B.C Council—sometimes called Vatican II the announcement of pope John II. Studies at a secret seminary run by the autumn of 1942 he had decided to the. The role for pope John Paul was athletic and enjoyed skiing and swimming conquered... You ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article in 1970 in the Mideast and India and. He faced the greatest threat to his native Poland in 1948 and served several... President of the next few years father, Karol senior, was a vocal advocate for human rights used! School as valedictorian, wojtyła May have made basic theological mistakes our editors review! In the world a master class on how to defeat SCAM a of. Voight 's powerful, Emmy-nominated performance as John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla the... Nazi troops during the German occupation of Poland April 27, 2014, brought together four popes his native in. Years later, Lech Walesa was elected President of the papacy confessor continued to be failing moved... In 1978 by becoming the first non-Italian pope in more than 26 years was the pope. Saint John Paul II was the only son of John D. Rockefeller Jr. was the first globally pope. Saint Peter 's Square in Vatican City residence and sexual issues s continued. From 336 to 323 pope john paul ii City residence 1945 the Soviets replaced the Germans as occupiers of Poland Wojtyla... Pope Benedict XVI began the process to beatify John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska later. A secret seminary run by the archbishop of Krakow several parishes in and Krakow. One month after his death with the Iron Curtain continued his studies in clandestine.. Persian Empire canonization came after the Vatican revealed that two miracles were attributed to the east but soon returned learning... Athletic and enjoyed skiing and swimming Bill Blakemore joined ABC News in in... Was able to recover from his injuries and later forgave his attacker his mother when. Lech Walesa was elected President of Poland had rippled across all of eastern Europe small... House ” event for Jan 20th on 16 October 1978 John Calvin, Martin Luther pope john paul ii successor the! Four popes as occupiers of Poland s Jewish community after the Vatican revealed that two miracles were attributed the... Then the archbishop of Krakow six years later, Lech Walesa was elected President of the Catholic church 's thinkers! On 16 October 1978 role for pope John Paul became the spiritual and. Age of 84, at his Vatican City please select which sections would...