| − | 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 ([[Yalta Agreement]]). In 1946, Karol Wojtyla became a [[priest]], a [[chaplain]] at St. Florians Church in [[Krakow]] in 1949, a professor of social ethics at Krakow's Jagiellonian University in 1956, Auxillary Bishop of Krakow in 1958 and [[Archbishop]] in 1964. 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 in 1951 and Archbishop of Krakow in 1958. 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> |
| − | A [[Muslim]] assassin from [[Turkey]], Mehmet Ali Agca, shot Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1981 at [[St. Peter's Square]]. In critical condition, he was rushed to Gemelli Hospital with abdominal wounds and severe blood loss. The recovered pope would meet with Mehmet in prison on December 27, 1983 to offer forgiveness in person. Years later(1985), an [[Italian]] court ruled that the [[Soviets]] were involved in the plot, possibly done for his efforts in [[Poland]]'s Solidarity movement. [[CIA]] reports have [[Warsaw Pact]] nation Communist [[Bulgaria]] as a culprit. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8G3J3J00&show_article=1 Italian Panel: Soviets Behind Pope Attack] Ap, March 2, 2006</ref> | + | A [[Muslim]] assassin from [[Turkey]], Mehmet Ali Agca, shot Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1981 at [[St. Peter's Square]]. In critical condition, he was rushed to Gemelli Hospital with abdominal wounds and severe blood loss. The recovered pope would meet with Mehmet in prison to offer forgiveness. Years later, an [[Italian]] court ruled that the [[Soviets]] were involved in the plot, possibly done for his efforts in [[Poland]]'s Solidarity movement. [[CIA]] reports have [[Warsaw Pact]] nation Communist [[Bulgaria]] as a culprit. <ref>[http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8G3J3J00&show_article=1 Italian Panel: Soviets Behind Pope Attack] Ap, March 2, 2006</ref> |
| | On May 13, 1982, an ultra-conservative Spanish monk named Juan Maria Fernandez y Krohn attacked Pope John Paul II with a bayonet in Fatima, Portugal. At the time, the pope concealed the fact from the public Fernandez y Krohn had wounded him with the blade. The monk was sentenced to 6-1/2 years in prison for the attack.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/PopeJohnPaulIITimeline.aspx Pope John Paul II Timeline]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7673443.stm Pope John Paul 'Wounded' in 1982]</ref> | | On May 13, 1982, an ultra-conservative Spanish monk named Juan Maria Fernandez y Krohn attacked Pope John Paul II with a bayonet in Fatima, Portugal. At the time, the pope concealed the fact from the public Fernandez y Krohn had wounded him with the blade. The monk was sentenced to 6-1/2 years in prison for the attack.<ref>[http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/ChurchAndMinistry/PopeJohnPaulIITimeline.aspx Pope John Paul II Timeline]</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7673443.stm Pope John Paul 'Wounded' in 1982]</ref> |