John Paul II in Katowice, Poland (1983), photo by Bernard Gotfryd · public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
His story
Karol Wojtyła, born in Wadowice, Poland, lost his mother, brother and father by age 20. He worked in a quarry and acted in underground theatre during the Nazi occupation while secretly studying for the priesthood. Elected pope in 1978, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, he made 104 international journeys to 129 countries and helped inspire the peaceful end of communism in Eastern Europe.
Path to sainthood
Crowds shouted "Santo subito!" ("Sainthood now!") at his funeral. Pope Benedict XVI waived the usual five-year wait. He was beatified on 1 May 2011 by Benedict XVI, after the healing of Sr Marie Simon-Pierre from Parkinson's disease. He was canonised on 27 April 2014 by Pope Francis, after the healing of Floribeth Mora Díaz of Costa Rica (a brain aneurysm), on the same day as St John XXIII.
Patronages
World Youth Day, young people, and families.
Trivia
- He survived being shot in St Peter's Square on 13 May 1981, the feast of Our Lady of Fátima, and later visited his attacker in prison to forgive him.
- As a young man he was a soccer goalkeeper, as well as a skier, hiker and kayaker.
- He wrote poetry and plays, and spoke many languages.
Sources
- Vatican News: St John Paul II
- Vatican: biography of John Paul II
- Vatican: Canonisation homily, 27 April 2014
Fact-checked on October 15, 2026 against New Advent (Catholic Encyclopedia), Vatican documents and news reports. Britannica links are given for further reading. Feast days follow the General Roman Calendar.
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