Pope John Paul II Biography

Born near Krakow in 1920, Karol Wojtyla enjoyed sports including football and skiing. A theatre lover, one of his early ambitions was to become an actor.

During the Nazi occupation in World War II he studied theology – mostly in hiding - and was eventually ordained a priest in 1946. He was quickly promoted up the ranks of the Catholic clergy, becoming archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and cardinal in 1967.

In 1978, he made history by becoming the first non-Italian to be made Pope in over 400 years.

Pope John Paul's papacy was characterised by almost constant travelling. He visited more than 100 countries and is estimated to have spanned the globe 27 times.
However his wish for closeness to his flock almost led to his death. In 1981 he was shot twice and seriously wounded by Mehmet Ali Hagca in St Peter's Square. He recovered and forgave his would-be assassin.

Although John Paul gained popularity for his progressive, hands-on leadership, he also drew criticism, particularly over his views on divorce, contraception and abortion.

At a Vatican conference in 2001 he spoke out against laws allowing divorce, abortion, homosexual unions and rights for unmarried couples. He was also criticised for not speaking out and condemning the recent spate of sexual abuse cases by priests of children in their care.

In recent years, John Paul has become increasingly frail and dogged by ill health. He had a tumour removed from his colon in 1992, dislocated his shoulder in 1993 and broke an arm in 1994. In 2001 an orthopaedic surgeon confirmed what had been suspected for some time - that the Pope was suffering from Parkinson's disease.

On 14 March 2004, the pontiff became the third-longest serving in the history of the Catholic Church.

The Pope marked his 84th birthday in May of that year, but despite deteriorating health refused to let up his gruelling schedule of appearances and foreign trips.

Pope John Paul II died in his private apartment at the Vatican on Saturday 2 April 2005.

Despite some of the criticisms aimed at Pope John Paul II he is remembered as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century and for sticking to his Catholic stance.

He has been credited with the fall of communism in his native Poland and for beatifying 1,340 people and canonising 483 saints - more than the combined tally of all his predecessors over the last five centuries.

It was part of his aim to transform and reposition the Catholic church. He also improved relations between Catholicism and other religions including Judaism and Islam.

After his death, more than three million lined the streets of the Vatican to say their goodbyes to the Pope who was buried at St Peter's Basilica on 8 April 2005. Church officials began the process of making him a saint wavering the usual five-year waiting period.

On 19 December 2009, Pope John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor Pope Benedict XVI and was beatified on 1 May 2011, which is the final step before being made a saint.