ST. JOHN PAUL II

ST. JOHN PAUL II

IMPORTANT DATES

• Born: May 18, 1920
• Died: April 2, 2005
• Beatified: May 1, 2011
• Canonized: April 27, 2014
• Feast Day: October 22

EARLY LIFE

• Original name: Karol Wojtyła
• Grew up in Wadowice, Poland
• His mother, Emilia Kaczorwska, died when Karol was eight, and his brother died three years later
• Karol excelled in academics, dramatics, and soccer
• Karol Excelled in collage, but was forced to drop out after the Nazi invasion in Poland

EMILIA KACZORWSKA & KAROL WOJTŁA SR.

EARLY LIFE II

• Karol wrote many plays, and even joined illegal theater groups while under Nazi occupation
• In February, 1941, Karol's father died alone
• After his father's death, Karol illegally joined A seminary run by Cardinal, Archbishop, Prince Adam Sapieha

LIFE AS A PRIEST

• Although he experienced the deaths of many priests, he stayed in the seminary and was ordained a priest in November, 1946
• Karol wrote many poetic and religious books on theological subjects
• Finished his 1st doctorate in Rome
• In 1958, Pope Pius XII appointed Karol Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków

CARDINAL AND ARCHBISHOP

• During the second Vatican council, in 1963, Pope Paul VI named Karol Archbishop of Kraków
• Four years later, in June, Karol was made a Cardinal
• While a Cardinal, Karol declared Christianity was the true protector of the poor and oppressed, not Communism

POPE PIUS VI CONSECRATING KAROL WOJTYŁA A CARDINAL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

POPE JOHN PAUL II

• After Pope Paul VI, John Paul I was made Pope, but died 33 days later
• Cardinals wanted elected Karol to unite a divided Church and attract youth
• On October 16, 1978, Karol was elected Pope
• Karol took the name Pope John Paul II in honor of his predecessor
• First non-Italian Pope in 455 years

THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

LIFE AS THE POPE

• Right after being elected, Pope John Paul II traveled to Central American countries
• While in Mexico, John Paul II attracted largest crowd ever assembled in one place, with an estimation of 5 million people
• He traveled more than all the other Popes before combined
• On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and nearly killed by a young Turkish man

LIFE AS THE POPE II

• Extended influence beyond the Church by campaigned against political oppression and materialism
• Apologized to groups wronged by Catholics in History like Jews and Muslims
• Helped end the Soviet Union
• Started World Youth Day which brought millions of youth together

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