Saint John Paul II

Saint John Paul II

Born: 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, Poland

Died: 2 April 2005 at the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City

Beatified: 1 May 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI

Canonized: 27 April 2014 by Pope Francis

Feast day: 22 October

Attributes: Papal ferula, papal vestments

Patronage: Archdiocese of Kraków, youth, families

Pope John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. As a young man he studied at the seminary in Kraków, Wojtyła was ordained as a priest on All Saints’ Day, 1 November 1946. He received a doctoral degree in 1948 and spent his first 12 years as a priest focusing on his literary work.

In 1948 he became the youngest bishop in Poland at age 38. In January of 1964 he was appointed to be Archbishop of Kraków, and in 1967 he was elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals.

In October of 1978, at the age of 58, he was elected by the second Papal enclave to become Pope. His papal inauguration was held on October 22, 1978. He served as Pope until his death in 2005.

During his pontificate, Pope John Paul II traveled extensively, visiting 129 countries. During that time, he also beatified 1,340 people and canonized 483 as part of his universal call to holiness. John Paul II is also credited with improving relations between adherents of Christianity and followers of Judaism, Islam and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

The widely beloved Pope died in his Vatican apartment on April 2, 2005 at the age of 84.

In December 2009 John Paul II was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI, and he was beatified on 1 May 2011. He was canonized on April 27, 2014.