75 Pope John Paul Ii Facts Legacy Accomplishments And More

Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian elected pope.He was born on May 18, 1920. He was the most beloved pope.In modern history, he is the second longest-serving pope. He was born in Wadowice, a Polish town. His birth name was Karol Józef Wojtyła. His father was Karol Wojtyla, and his mother was Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother was a school teacher who died when he was eight years old. He had two elder siblings. His sister died before his birth. His brother Edmund was 13 years older than him. He was a physician. He died from scarlet fever. His brother’s death affected Wojtyla deeply. He was baptized a month after his birth and had his first communion at the age of nine. He was very athletic and liked playing football. He and his father moved to Krakow in the year 1938. He studied at Jagiellonian University. He studied philology, worked as a librarian, and also attended compulsory military training. Though he was at the military camp in the academic legion, he did not fire a bullet. He also worked as a playwright and participated in theater plays. He learned 15 languages in college—nine of the languages he frequently used when he was a pope. When Poland was invaded in 1939, his college was closed. On November 1, 1946, Wojtyla was ordained as a priest.Facts About Pope John Paul IIWojtyla was the youngest bishop at the age of 38 in Poland. He is known for his cheerfulness and his sincerity in prayer. John Paul II made his first communion at the age of nine. His mother was dead by then. His family was a loving one, but he suffered many hardships as he lost every member of his family when he turned 13. His father played an important role in directing him to be a worshipper of God. He was a very religious man and lived his life with austerity. His father’s way was a kind of domestic seminary for him.In the university, Pope John Paul II studied literature, the Polish language, poetry, and theater.In college, he studied 15 languages. Nine of the languages he spoke regularly as pope, too.John Paul II was the co-founder of the Rhapsodic Theatre of Krakow.His friends called him Lolek.His spiritual mentor was Jan Tyranowski.Jan Tarnowski introduced him to St John of the Cross’s Carmelite mysticism.After the meeting with him, John Paul decided to become a priest.When the Nazis of Germany invaded Poland, his studies were interrupted in the year 1939.He worked as a stone quarry in order for him to remain in the country.He also worked at Solvay chemical plant on night shifts.On February 18, 1941, Karol’s father died of a heart attack.He was almost hit by a German truck in the year 1944 and was miraculously saved.This incident opened his eyes and strengthened his intention to become a priest.When he was a young priest, he had human love and wanted to commit his whole life to the betterment of humans.A clandestine seminary held by Cardinal Sapheia was also attended by John Paul II.In the year 1946, he was ordained alone on the feast of all saints day.After his ordainment, he returned to Rome, to continue his doctoral studies.He was made an assistant pastor of a parish in Niegowic when he returned to Poland after his studies.He also began his vital work with the younger people after he became an assistant pastor.He also taught for five years approximately at Jagiellonian University.At the University of Lublin, he was appointed to the chair of ethics.Pope John Paul II’s TimelineThe following is the timeline of the life of St John Paul II:Karol Jozef Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland.Between the years 1937-1939, he moves to Krakow with his father and enlisted in Jagiellonian University.On November 1, 1946, Pope John Paul II was ordained as a priest.On September 28, 1958, John Paul was appointed as an auxiliary bishop in Krakow.On March 8, 1964, Paul II was installed as an archbishop in Krakow.Pope Paul VI appointed Paul II a cardinal on June 28, 1967.In the year 1972, he publishes foundations of renewal, to educate people on the archdiocese of Vatican II.On October 16, 1978, he became the Catholic church’s 264th pope.He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, and the first Polish pope.On January 25, 1979, he made his first visit to Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic.On June 2, 1979, he visits his homeland Poland as a pope.On May 13, 1981. the pope is shot in the abdomen while circling St. Peter’s Square.On July 15, 1992, the pope undergoes colon surgery on a benign tumor and stayed in a hospital for almost two weeks.On March 20-26, 2000 he makes his first visit to the Holy Land.On September 3, 2000, he blessed Pope John XXIII and Pope Pius IX, which was one of the disputed acts of John Paul II’s papacy.On February 1, 2005, he contacts the flu and is taken to a hospital in Rome.On February 10, 2005, he leaves the hospital and returns back to the Vatican.On February 24, 2005, he undergoes a tracheotomy after the flu relapsed.On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II’s death is announced at the age of 84.Pope John Paul II’s AccomplishmentsHe completed a second doctorate at the Jagiellonian University. He taught ethics and theology at the university. He was also known for his poetry which he published anonymously. He wrote on various themes. Those themes were usually based on personal experiences, social changes, and religion. He usually used to go on camping and kayaking trips with his group of friends. He became a mentor for them and also was their religious leader. He took part in the Second Vatican Council in the year 1962. He helped them write two important documents that were very important in the council. One document was about the work of the church in the modern world. The other document was about Religious freedom. He also became the archbishop of Krakow in the year 1963. In the history of Poland, he was the youngest person to be appointed as a bishop. His friends from camping were the first ones to also begin an annual tradition to say Midnight mass on Christmas day at Nowa Huta in an open field.Saint John Paul II was the youngest bishop in the history of Poland.On July 4, 1958, he was consecrated as an auxiliary bishop.He used to like hiking and camping with his group of people.When he was appointed as bishop, they were the first ones to know.Paul was against communism in Poland.He encouraged cultural and spiritual resistance against communism.This gave the people of his country hope when they were oppressed by the government.In 1962, he took part in the Second Vatican Council.He provided vital support to the Council’s seminal documents.Humanae Vitae’s final formulation had many of his insights.In the year 1968, Pope Paul VI promulgated Humanae Vitae.After this incident, Paul II was promoted to the college of cardinals,In 1978, on October 22 at St Peter’s Square, his first Inaugural address was delivered.In this inaugural address, he said to the public not to be afraid.He said the public to open his heart to Christ.He also said that Christ alone knows what is inside man.On October 16, 1978, Cardinal Wojtyla was elected as pope.Cardinal Wojtyla adopted the name of John Paul II.He was Peter’s 263 successor.In the history of the church, he had one of the longest pontificates.His pontificate lasted for 27 years.Inspired by St Louis de Montfort’s insight he retained his Episcopal motto.His episcopal motto was ‘Totus Tuus: I am completely yours.‘His papacy was a declaration of divine love.Pope John Paul II’s LegacyBishop Wojtyla was appointed as an archbishop in the year 1964. After three years, John Paul was named as a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. He was elected as a pope in October 1978. His predecessor was Pope John Paul. John Paul was short-lived. So Wojtyla took his name. He made visits to 124 countries. There was less Christian population in these countries, and he went as a missionary to spread the message of Jesus Christ.Pope John Paul II was successful in ending communism and issuing the Catholic church’s first apology.He also was applauded for making peace with people of other faith.Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was his successor.He adopted the name, Pope Benedict XVI. John Paul II died in Italy in the year 2005.John Paul II attended the four sessions and contributed to the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in Vatican II.John Paul II was the first pope to visit the UK and meet Queen Elizabeth II.Pope John Paul liked to travel and spread the word of Christianity.He was one of the factors which helped remove communism from Eastern Europe.Pope John Paul was the first Catholic Pope to visit Egypt and pray in Syria.John Paul II visited 117 countries and traveled a million miles.The funeral mass of John Paul II was held in St. Peter’s Square.He was also the first pope ever to visit the white house.He met President Bush in the White House and improved the relationship between the church and the US state.The first non-Italian pope was Pope Adrian VI.The annual World Youth Day was started by him.The pope also visited Japan, in the year 1982.He visited Puerto Rico and South Korea in the year 1984.He was the first-ever pope to visit the country of Cuba.He criticized the government of Cuba for not allowing its people to practice religion freely.He visited Phillipineson on the 10th World Youth Day to a crowd of 4-8 million people. 

Pope John Paul II was the first non-Italian elected pope.