Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. Karol was the youngest of three children.

His father was a retired army sergeant and his mother was of Lithuanian descent. By the time Karol was nine years old, His mother had died. Three years later, his eldest brother Edmund also died. His father was laid to rest in 1941. He had a sister, Olga, who died before he was born. So Karol knew well the feeling of loss.

In 1938 Karol enrolled in Krakow's Jagiellonian University which was closed by the Nazi occupation forces the following year. From 1940-1944 young Karol worked in a quarry and in a chemical plant to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany.

Aware of a vocation to the priesthood, Karol began his studies in the seminary of Krakow in 1942 and was ordained to the priesthood on November 1, 1946.

Shortly after ordination, he was sent to Rome by Cardinal Sapieha to complete his doctorate in theology. During his vacation days, he would do pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland. Returning to Poland, he was vicar of various parishes and chaplain to the university students. He later became professor of moral theology and social ethics in the major seminary of Krakow.

In 1964, he was appointed archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI and was elevated to Cardinal in 1967.

Cardinal Wojtla took part in Vatican Council II and contributed to drafting the Constitution Gaudium et Spes. He participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops.

Cardinal Wojtyla was elected Pope on October 16, 1978 and was solemnly inaugurated on October 22. Adopting his predecessor's name, he took the name John Paul II.

His love for young people inspired him to establish the 19 World Youth Days during his pontificate. Millions of young people from all over the world were brought together for these occasions.

The life of Pope John Paul II was marked with activity and accomplishments. On April 2, 2005, God called John Paul II to Himself. Thus he departed this world on Divine Mercy Sunday to go to his God whom he had served so faithfully and lovingly.