About
Born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland, he was elected pope in 1978 as John Paul II, becoming the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century. Ordained priest in 1946, he served as Archbishop of Kraków and participated in the Second Vatican Council. His pontificate, one of the longest in history, was marked by his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, his numerous apostolic journeys, and his commitment to interreligious dialogue. He left a significant theological legacy, including 14 encyclicals. He was canonized in 2014.
* 1920-05-18 — † 2005-04-02
Major works
- Redemptor Hominis (1979)encyclical
- Laborem Exercens (1981)encyclical
- Veritatis Splendor (1993)encyclical
- Evangelium Vitae (1995)encyclical
- Fides et Ratio (1998)encyclical
Key milestones
- 1978Elected pope on October 16, inaugurated on October 22.
- 1986First pope to visit a synagogue in Rome.
- 2014Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27.
Themes
Human dignityInterreligious dialogueTheology of the bodySocial justiceRole of the Church in the modern wo
Sources: vatican.va · britannica.com