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|succeeded=[[Pope Benedict XVI]]

|succeeded=[[Pope Benedict XVI]]

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'''Pope Saint John Paul II''' (May 18, 1920 - April 2, 2005; r. October 16, 1978 to April 2, 2005), born '''Karol Józef Wojtyła''' in Wadowice, [[Poland]], was the 264th [[pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]].  He 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 (one of the titles of the pope) in 1978, the Year of Three Popes, and is now known as '''Saint John Paul the Great''' after being canonized on April 27, 2014. 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.

'''Pope Saint John Paul II''' (May 18, 1920 - April 2, 2005; r. October 16, 1978 to April 2, 2005), born '''Karol Józef Wojtyła''' in Wadowice, [[Poland]], was the 264th [[pope]] of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic Church]].  He 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 the papacy of [[Pope Adrian VI]] in 1523).<ref name="History.info 2020 a088">{{cite web | title=Last non-Italian Pope Elected | website=History.info | date=2020-01-08 | url=https://history.info/on-this-day/last-non-italian-pope-elected-1522/ | access-date=2023-12-23}}</ref> He became [[Vicar]] of Christ (one of the titles of the pope) in 1978, the Year of Three Popes, and is now known as '''Saint John Paul the Great''' after being canonized on April 27, 2014. 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.

==Early life==

==Early life==