John Paul II, originally Karol Jozef Wojtyla 1920-
Polish pope

Born in Wadowice, he was educated in Poland, ordained in 1946, and became Professor of Moral Theology at Lublin and Krak�w. Archbishop and Metropolitan of Krak�w (1964-78), he was created cardinal in 1967 and pope in 1978, the first non-Italian pope in 450 years. Noted for his energy and analytical ability, his pontificate has seen many foreign visits, in which he has preached to huge audiences. In 1981 he survived an assassination attempt, when he was shot and wounded in St Peter's Square by a Turkish national, Mehmet Ali Agca, possibly at Bulgarian instigation. A champion of economic justice and an outspoken defender of the Church in communist countries, he has been uncompromising on moral issues. In the 1980s his visits to Poland and his meetings with Mikhail Gorbachev were of great assistance to Solidarity in promoting Polish independence, achieved in 1989. In 1995 he participated in historic meetings aimed at discussing relations between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches and other concerns. 1996 was a year of poor health but he continued performing his public duties. He has written a play and several books, including The Freedom of Renewal (1972) and The Future of the Church (1979), and his Collected Poems appeared in 1982.

Bibliography: Andre Frossard, Portrait of John Paul II (1990)