Pope John Paul (II)

Pope John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła; 1920–2005) was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and philosopher who became Archbishop of Kraków and was elected pope in 1978, serving until 2005. His pontificate was one of the longest in modern history and included extensive international travel and public engagement. He played a prominent role in the Catholic Church’s response to late–20th-century political and social change, including support for Poland’s Solidarity movement. John Paul II wrote widely on theology, ethics, and human dignity, issuing major encyclicals and other papal documents. He also promoted interreligious dialogue and canonized and beatified many individuals.