Blessed Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła (Polish: [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛf vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at 84 years and 319 days of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted 26 years and 168 days; only Pope Pius IX (1846–1878) who served 31 years, has reigned longer. Pope John Paul II is the only Slavic or Polish pope to date and was the first non-Italian Pope since Dutch Pope Adrian VI (1522–1523).
John Paul II has been acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. It is widely held that he was instrumental in ending communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. Conversely, he denounced the excesses of capitalism. John Paul II is widely said to have significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Though criticised by progressives for upholding the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, he was also criticised by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform of the Liturgy as well as his ecumenical efforts.
He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. He spoke Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Croatian, and Latin as well as his native Polish. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the last five centuries. On 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and was beatified on
John PaulII has beenrecognized as oneof the most influentialleaders of the20th century.It is commonly thoughtthatwas instrumentalto theend ofcommunismin his nativePolandandeventuallythroughout Europe.Conversely,condemned theexcessesof capitalism.John Paul IIis widelysaid to havegreatly improvedrelationswith theCatholic Church,Judaism,Islam,Orthodox Church andthe Anglican Communion.Althoughcriticized byprogressivesfor the observance ofthe Church'steachingsagainstartificial contraceptionandthe ordination of women,was also criticizedbytraditionalistsfor hissupport ofthe Church'sSecond Vatican Council anditsreform,as well as hisecumenicalefforts. He was oneof the mosttraveledworld leadersin history, visiting129 countriesduringhispontificate.He spokeItalian, French, German, English, Spanish,Portuguese, Russian, Croatian,and Latin, as well asthePolish language.As part of itsemphasis onthe universal callto holiness,he beatified1,340 peopleandcanonised483saints,morethantotalagreement withhis predecessorsin the past fivecenturies.On 19 December2009,Pope John PaulIIwas declaredvenerable
Blessed Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II, Polish: Jan Paweł II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła (Polish: [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛf vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at 84 years and 319 days of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted 26 years and 168 days; only Pope Pius IX (1846–1878) who served 31 years, has reigned longer. Pope John Paul II is the only Slavic or Polish pope to date and was the first non-Italian Pope since Dutch Pope Adrian VI (1522–1523).
John Paul II has been acclaimed as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. It is widely held that he was instrumental in ending communism in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe. Conversely, he denounced the excesses of capitalism. John Paul II is widely said to have significantly improved the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. Though criticised by progressives for upholding the Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, he was also criticised by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform of the Liturgy as well as his ecumenical efforts.
He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. He spoke Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Croatian, and Latin as well as his native Polish. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the last five centuries. On 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and was beatified on
John Paul II has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. It is commonly thought that was instrumental to the end of communism in his native Poland andeventually throughout Europe. Conversely, condemned the excesses of capitalism. John Paul II is widely said to have greatly improved relations with the Catholic Church, Judaism, Islam, Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. Although criticized by progressives for the observance ofthe Church's teachings against artificial contraception and the ordination of women, was also criticized by traditionalists for his support of the Church's Second Vatican Council and its reform,as well as his ecumenical efforts.
He was one of the most traveled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during hispontificate. He spoke Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Croatian,and Latin, as well as the Polish language. As part of its emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he beatified 1,340 people and canonised 483 saints, more than total agreement withhis predecessors in the past five centuries. On 19 December 2009, Pope John Paul II was declared venerable