John Paul II

Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century and the third-longest-serving pope in history. Known for his extensive travels, visiting 129 countries, he significantly improved relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church, while maintaining the Church's traditional stances on issues like abortion and the ordination of women. He emphasized family and identity, critiqued consumerism, and beatified 1,344 people and canonized 483 saints. He is credited with helping to end communist rule in Poland and Europe. His pontificate saw the promulgation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 and died at the age of 84.