Karol Wojtyła

Karol Józef Wojtyła was born in Wadowice, Poland, the youngest of three children. His mother died when he was eight, and his brother died in his late teens. He worked in a quarry during World War II to avoid forced labor. He pursued stage acting and studied theology, eventually becoming Archbishop of Kraków and then a cardinal. Elected pope in 1978, he adopted the name John Paul II. He sought to improve relations with other Christian denominations and religions, and maintained traditional Catholic stances on issues like abortion and women's ordination. He was one of the most travelled world leaders, beatifying 1,344 people and canonizing 483 saints. He is credited with helping to end communist rule in Poland and Eastern Europe. He died in 2005 and was later canonized in 2014.