Pope
Pope Saint John Paul II
Pope from 1978 to 2005
Pope Saint John Paul II, who reigned as Roman Pontiff from 1978–2005.
Background
Pope Saint John Paul II, the first Polish pope and first non-Italian in 455 years, reigned for nearly twenty-seven years. He helped bring down communism in Eastern Europe, founded World Youth Day, promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and canonized more saints than any predecessor. Canonized in 2014.
Summary
Pope Saint John Paul II, who reigned as Roman Pontiff from 1978–2005.
Papacy began
1978
Papacy ended
2005
Birth name
Karol Józef Wojtyła