Description

Karol Wojtyla became pope in October of 1978 taking the name John Paul II. He was born near Cracow Poland and studied for the priesthood during WWII in an underground seminary. As pope, John Paul II gave the church an enormous body of work through his many encyclicals, books and weekly public teachings, earning the title ‘John Paul the Great’. During his pontificate he traveled more than any other pope. Once he offered Mass to seven million people, the largest gathering in Christian history. He was also instrumental in bringing about an end to Communist rule in all of Europe. His feast day is October 22nd.