The Polish
Saint, Pope St. John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes
Paulus II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła in 18 May 1920 and died in 2 April 2005, served as Roman
Pontiff from 1978 to 2005. He is widely known to Catholics as Saint John Paul
the Great, especially in the names of institutions.
He was
elected by the second Papal conclave of 1978, which was called after Pope John
Paul I, who had been elected in August after the death of Pope Paul VI, died after
thirty-three days. Cardinal Wojtyła was elected on the third day of the
conclave and adopted his predecessor's name in tribute to him. John Paul II is
recognised as helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually
all of Europe. John Paul II significantly improved the Catholic Church's
relations with Judaism, Islam, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican
Communion. He upheld the Church's teachings on such matters as artificial
contraception and the ordination of women, but also supported the Church's
Second Vatican Council and its reforms.
