Pope John Paul II[b] (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; [c] 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. …

Nov 24, 2025 · Born in Poland, St. John Paul II (reigned 1978 to 2005) was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. He traveled abroad extensively in an effort to promote greater …

On October 16, 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, was elected the 263rd successor to Saint Peter and chose the name John Paul II in honor of the late John Paul I. …

John Paul II 264th Pope of the Catholic Church ... Angelus / Regina Caeli Apostolic Constitutions Apostolic Exhortations Apostolic Letters Audiences Biography Books Bulls Encyclicals …

Oct 22, 2025 · From the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II sought to heal the divisions between the Christian churches, especially with his Orthodox brothers and sisters. He was …

2 days ago · Karol Józef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in the Polish town of Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometers from Krakow, on …

4 days ago · Forty-two years ago on Dec. 27, Pope John Paul II showed the world that radical forgiveness is possible when he visited his would-be assassin in prison. Two-and-a-half years …

Throughout his pontificate, Pope John Paul II guided and prepared the Church to celebrate the Great Jubilee, a celebration of the mercy of God and the forgiveness of sin, which began with …

Aug 18, 2025 · Twenty years after his death, the memory of Pope St. John Paul II remains vivid in the hearts of millions. His papacy, the third longest in the history of the Church, left an indelible …

Apr 2, 2025 · Coming to the papacy after a long night of confusion and anxiety in the church, Pope John Paul II set out to make things right. “Be not afraid,” he reassured the crowd in St. …