Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II
Saint	Pope John Paul II
Birthdate	1920-05-18
Deathdate	2005-04-05
Miracle 1	The Healing of Sister Marie Simon-Pierre Normand: Sister Marie, a French nun, suffered from Parkinson's disease, the same condition that afflicted Pope John Paul II. After his death in 2005, her fellow nuns prayed for her healing through the intercession of John Paul II. In 2007, Sister Marie reported that her symptoms had suddenly disappeared overnight, an event she and her community attributed to John Paul II's intercession. Medical experts, after examination, could not explain the sudden and complete recovery, leading the Vatican to recognize this as a miracle in 2010.
Miracle 2	The Healing of Floribeth Mora Diaz: In Costa Rica, Floribeth Mora Diaz was suffering from an inoperable brain aneurysm, which was expected to be fatal. On May 1, 2011, the day of John Paul II's beatification, she watched the ceremony on television and reported feeling an overwhelming sense of well-being. She claimed that she heard the voice of John Paul II telling her to get up and not to be afraid. Subsequent medical tests showed that her aneurysm had completely disappeared, which doctors could not explain scientifically. This healing was investigated by the Church and recognized as the second miracle necessary for sainthood in 2013.
Miracle 3
Cause of death	Natural causes
Feast day	October 22
Beatified by	Pope Benedict XVI

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, was the first non-Italian pope in over 400 years and one of the longest-serving popes in modern history.

Early life

Youth

Karol was the youngest of three children. His mother died when he was nine, and his father, a former army officer, raised him. He was athletic, enjoyed soccer, and was an excellent student. Tragedy struck again when his older brother died, and later, his father.

Education

He studied at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where he was interested in theater and poetry. His studies were interrupted by World War II.

World War II

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Wojtyła worked in a quarry and a chemical factory to avoid deportation to Germany. He also helped protect many Jews from the Nazis. This period reinforced his resolve to enter the priesthood.

Priesthood

Ordination

He was ordained as a priest in 1946. Academic Career: He earned two doctorates (in theology and philosophy) and became a professor of ethics.

Bishop and Cardinal

Bishop

In 1958, he was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Kraków. At 38, he was the youngest bishop in Poland. Archbishop: Became the Archbishop of Kraków in 1964.

Cardinal

Pope Paul VI made him a cardinal in 1967.

Papacy

Election

Elected pope on October 16, 1978, taking the name John Paul II. His papacy began with a message of "Do not be afraid," encouraging openness to Christ.

Travels

Known as the "Pilgrim Pope," he visited 129 countries, emphasizing dialogue with other religions and advocating for human rights, peace, and against totalitarianism.

Youth engagement

He initiated the World Youth Day, which attracted millions of young people. Political Impact: Played a significant role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe, particularly in his native Poland, through his support for the Solidarity movement.

Assassination attempt

On May 13, 1981, he was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca in St. Peter's Square. He later forgave Ağca and even visited him in prison.

Health issues

Suffered from several health problems in later years, including Parkinson's disease, which became evident in his public appearances.

Death

John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. His funeral was one of the largest gatherings of heads of state in history.

Canonization

• He was beatified on May 1, 2011, by Pope Benedict XVI
• He was canonized as a saint by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014.