Date of Birth
18 May 1920,
Wadowice, Poland
Date of Death
2 April 2005, Vatican City (septic shock and irreversible cardio-circulatory collapse)
Birth Name
Karol Josef Wojtyla
Nickname
The Pilgrim Pope
Height
5' 10" (1.78 m)
Trivia
Elected in 1978, he became the first non-Italian Pope in 456 years.
In the early 1980s, Marvel Comics produced his life story, in comic book form.
Was a fan of Anthony Quinn. Baptized Francesco Quinn's twin children personally.
Had his look-alike puppet in the French show "Guignols de l'info, Les" (1988).
After the death of Pope John Paul I, on September 28, 1978, the College of Cardinals met in a secret conclave in the Vatican to elect the 264th successor to St. Peter as Bishop of Rome. In the eighth round of voting, on October 16, the cardinals chose Karol Wojtyla, who accepted their decision and chose the name John Paul II.
Awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush [June 2004].
Suffered from Parkinson's Disease from 1992 until his death in 2005.
Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on July 27th 2000, presented to him at the Vatican on January 8th 2001. John Paul II was the first Pope to receive America's highest honor.
The very first Polish Pope.
Spoke 8 languages
Childhood nickname: Lolek (an abbreviation of Karol, his birth name).
His favourite motto: "Fear not."
In 2001 he became the first Pope in history to enter a mosque.
In 1986 he became the first Pope in over nearly two thousand years to enter a synagogue.
Traveled more than any Pope in history, an estimated 750,000 miles to 129 countries during his Pontificate.
Survived an assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca in 1981.
His official motto, "totus tuus" (all yours), referred to the Virgin.
His immediate predecessor, Pope John Paul I, died of a pulmonary embolism after serving only one month in office, aged 65.
Was succeeded by Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI (19 April 2005).
Given the frequency of his pastoral visits to foreign countries, a very popular joke about him was "God is everywhere, and Wojtyla has already been there".
Canonized 482 saints and beatified 1,338 people, believed to be more than all his predecessors combined.
The Latin form of his name was Ioannes Paulus Secundus.
Elevated to Cardinal [26 June 1967]
Ordained a Bishop [4 July 1958]
Ordained a Priest [1 November 1946]
Died three days before the death of Prince Rainier of Monaco. Monaco is the second smallest independent nation in the world. Pope John Paul II was the ruler of the Vatican City, the world's smallest independent nation.
He is the most traveled Pope in history.
At 26 years, he had the third longest reign as Pope.
It is believed that about five million people came to Rome between April 2 and 8, 2005 to take part in his funeral - that is considered the greatest mourning ceremony in the history of the world.
Personal Quotes
"One discovers the common values of every culture, capable of uniting and not dividing."
Minutes after his election as Pope, speaking to the crowd about his not-so-good Italian: "Se mi sbaglio mi corrigerete" ("if I'm wrong you will 'corrected' me" - "corrigerete" is wrong in Italian). This got a huge applause.
"Believe. Do not be afraid to believe." (His first words after being elected Pope).
"Stupidity is also a gift from God, but it should not be abused."
"A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope."
And what I can say in the end? I am sorry to leave. (The sentence spontaneously added to his speech at the Balice Airport, Krak
The body of Pope John Paul II.
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
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