Pope+John+Paul+II

Tim Doody and Kyle Coffman  Pope John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920 as Karol Józef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland. Pope John Paul II (native Polish name: Jan Pawel II). He was the youngest of the born to Karol Woltyla (1879-1941) and Emila Kaccrowska (1884-1929, died of child birth) His eldest sister, Olga died before he was born, and his broth Edmund was 18 years older. Edmund was a physician, leading him to die of scarlet fever After studying in school until the Nazis took over where there was no teaching of the Poles. Still the soon to be Pope illegally got an more of an education by the archbishop of Krakow. As Pope he visited over 100 countries and is known for making major contributions to the fall of communism in Poland.  Later John left in mid-1928 to move to Krakow, where he enrolled at Jagienllonian University, where he studied topics such as philology, and various languages. He worked as a volunteer librarian, and was required to participate in compulsory military training in the Academic Legion, but he refused to fire a weapon. This man in a matter of about 19 years became a priest for several parishes, bishop, archbishop, and then finally a cardinal. Finally in 1978 John Paul II became the first non-italian pope since 400 years ago. After finishing his studies at the seminary in Krakow, he was ordained as a priest on All Saints Day, 11/1/1946. By Archbishop of Krakow, cardinal Sapieha Sapieha sent John to Rome's Pontifical International Athenaeum Angelican to study under Fr. Renginal Garrigou-Lagrange on 11/26/1946, he passed his doctial exam on June 14, 1948. John became Pope after the deut of Pope Paul VI. Cardinal John voted in the Papal conclave with elected Pope John Paul I. It was quite unexpected because John Paul I was only pope for 33 days. John Paul the II would then take up his double name.He wrote 5 books and spoke 12 foreign languages. He had served as pope for the third longest time. Also he respected and honored other world religions. Also john Paul II survived two assassinations one with a bayonet and two bullet wounds as another.  As the only Polish pope, John Paul was loved by many. He was said to have been the best pope ever. More people attended his funeral then Winston Churchill’s. The polish people adored him. This man has changed the way the church looks in the countries we will visit. Pope John Paul II brought pride to his home country. John Paul II supported the fall of communism and helped Poland majorly in those rough times. When Pope, John II traveled to Poland there were crowds surrounded him. His first trip uplifted the nation's spirit, and later sparked the Solidarity movement in 1980. Later trips, he gave support to the Solidarity Movement.The visits contributed in messages to the collapse of East European Communism between 1989/1990. Pope John Paul II died later at age 84 (April 2 2005). Pope John Paul II made Poland what it is today free, and a country with much national pride.