John Paul II

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyła in 1920, served as the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first Polish pope and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Known for his dynamic leadership, he played a significant role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and promoted interfaith dialogue. His papacy emphasized human rights, the sanctity of life, and the importance of family. He became the most-traveled pope in history and was canonized as a saint in 2014, leaving a lasting legacy in the Catholic Church and beyond.