Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Poland in 1920, was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his passing in 2005. He was known for his strong advocacy for human rights, his promotion of interfaith dialogue, and his role in ending communism in Eastern Europe. John Paul II was the second longest-serving pope in history and was canonized as a saint in 2014. He was beloved for his charismatic personality, his travels around the world, and his commitment to social justice.