Pope John Paul II Pope >From Jessica Steinmetz, Your Guide to Christianity - Catholicism.
Name: The birth name of Pope John Paul II is Karol Jozef Wojtyla. He was born May 18, 1920 at Wadowice, Poland. Childhood & Education: Growing up, he was a great student and very athletic. He liked to play soccer, backpack, hike, and he wanted to have a career in theater. In 1942, he thought he might want a career in the religious life. In 1946, he was ordained a priest. Religious Life: When he was 58, he became the Catholic Pope John Paul II. It was on October 16, 1978. He was the first Polish pope and also the first non-Italian pope since Pope Adrian VI in 1522. Languages: Pope John Paul II can speak eight languages. He learned Spanish after becoming the Pope. He also travelled more than any Pope in history. Assassination Attempt: In 1981, there was an assassination attempt on the Pope. He was shot, but he recovered. In 1983, he had a private meeting with the man who shot him. More Information: Pope John Paul II didn't have a very happy childhood. Many of his family members died when he was a young boy. As a child and as he grew, he had a love for athletic activities and theater. His father had a dream that his son would be a Pope. Eighteen months after his father died, Karol Jozef entered school to become a priest. In October 1978, Karol Jozef became Pope John Paul II. He is very well known for his stance on abortion, life issues, and human rights. Many country leaders have sought his advice and guidance. In 1994, Time Magazine named him the Man of the Year. He has authored several books. One of his books, "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," is a best seller. The Pope has travelled more than any Pope in history. He has also canonized more saints than any other Pope. Within the last few years, he has added the Luminous mysteries, a series of meditations, to the Rosary. In recent years, it was discovered that Pope John Paul II has Parkinson's disease. Despite this, he has continued to serve Catholics worldwide and has remained a very active head of Roman Catholicism.