| − | '''Blessed Pope John Paul II''' (b. May 18, 1920, died April 2, 2005), born Karol Józef Wojtyła, in Wadowice, [[Poland]] succeeded [[John Paul I]] and preceded [[Benedict XVI]]. He held the second longest papacy in modern times, after Pope Pius IX, and was the first non-Italian [[Pope]] in over 500 years. He became Vicar of Christ (the title given to the pope) in 1978, the year of three popes, and is now known as Blessed John Paul II after being beautified on May 1, 2011. He was fluent in ten languages and would often give his [[homilies]] in the local language of countries he visited. By using Godly Love, he stood up to the [[Nazi]]s and the [[Communist]]s and overcame them both. His pontificate was successful in keeping a vibrant modern Church in strict accordance with Apostolic traditions. He [[canonized]] more [[saints]] than any other pope. It is widely desired that John Paul II be sainted and have a title of "John Paul the Great." | + | '''Blessed Pope John Paul II''' (b. May 18, 1920, died April 2, 2005), born Karol Józef Wojtyła, in Wadowice, [[Poland]] succeeded [[John Paul I]] and preceded [[Benedict XVI]]. He held the second longest papacy in modern times, after Pope Pius IX, and was the first non-Italian [[Pope]] in over 400 years (since 1523). He became Vicar of Christ (the title given to the pope) in 1978, the year of three popes, and is now known as Blessed John Paul II after being beautified on May 1, 2011. He was fluent in ten languages and would often give his [[homilies]] in the local language of countries he visited. By using Godly Love, he stood up to the [[Nazi]]s and the [[Communist]]s and overcame them both. His pontificate was successful in keeping a vibrant modern Church in strict accordance with Apostolic traditions. He [[canonized]] more [[saints]] than any other pope. It is widely desired that John Paul II be sainted and have a title of "John Paul the Great." |
| − | Karol was born the last of three siblings to father Karol Wojtyła and mother Emilia Kaczorowska. At a young age, he was a known to be gentle and loving to all. His mother died on April 13, 1929 and his older brother, who was a doctor, died of scarlet fever on December 5, 1932.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> He lived with his father until he entered the Jagiellonian [[University]] in [[Kraków]], [[Poland]]. He was a very good football (soccer) player and his nickname was 'Goalie'. Karol loved the arts and was involved in poetry and drama. In 1939, [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] invaded Poland. His father died on Feb. 18, 1941, when Karol was 21 years old.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> Occupied Poland was a hard life for Karol but he survived by hiding within the underground movement. He refused any armed struggle, and was intent on keeping his freedoms and the Polish people's dignity alive through arts. He was known to help [[Jewish]] Poles against the wrath of Nazi [[persecution]]. In October 1942, at the age of 22, he entered the underground seminary to study as a priest. In 1945, the Nazis evacuated Poland and Communism through the USSR took over. In 1946, Karol Wojtyla became a [[priest]], became a [[chaplain]] at St. Florians Church in [[Krakow]] in 1949, a professor of social ethics at Krakow's Jagiellonian University 1951 and in 1958, Archbishop of Krakow. In the 1960s, he was at the Vatican during [[Vatican II]] and in 1967, he became a [[Cardinal]]. <ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> | + | Karol was born the last of three siblings to father Karol Wojtyła and mother Emilia Kaczorowska. At a young age, he was known to be gentle and loving to all. His mother died on April 13, 1929 and his older brother, who was a doctor, died of scarlet fever on December 5, 1932.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> He lived with his father until he entered the Jagiellonian [[University]] in [[Kraków]], [[Poland]]. He was a very good football (soccer) player and his nickname was 'Goalie'. Karol loved the arts and was involved in poetry and drama. In 1939, [[Nazi]] [[Germany]] invaded Poland. His father died on Feb. 18, 1941, when Karol was 21 years old.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> Occupied Poland was a hard life for Karol but he survived by hiding within the underground movement. He refused any armed struggle, and was intent on keeping his freedoms and the Polish people's dignity alive through arts. He was known to help [[Jewish]] Poles against the wrath of Nazi [[persecution]]. In October 1942, at the age of 22, he entered the underground seminary to study as a priest. In 1945, the Nazis evacuated Poland and Communism through the USSR took over. In 1946, Karol Wojtyla became a [[priest]], became a [[chaplain]] at St. Florians Church in [[Krakow]] in 1949, a professor of social ethics at Krakow's Jagiellonian University 1951 and in 1958, Archbishop of Krakow. In the 1960s, he was at the Vatican during [[Vatican II]] and in 1967, he became a [[Cardinal]]. <ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/KarolWojtylaPopeJohnPaulTimeline.aspx Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Timeline]</ref> |