John Paul II, (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005), reigned as the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City from 16 October 1978, until his death, almost 27 years later. His was the second-longest pontificate after Pius IX’s 32-year reign. He has been the only Polish pope, and was the first non-Italian pope since the Dutch Adrian VI in the 1520s.
John Paul II was Pope during a period in which the Catholic Church’s influence declined in developed countries but expanded in the Third World. During his reign, the pope traveled extensively, visiting over 100 countries, more than any of his predecessors. He remains one of the most-traveled world leaders in history. He was fluent in numerous languages: his native Polish and also Italian, French, German, English, Spanish, Croatian, Portuguese, Russian and Latin. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, he canonized a great number of people.
He beatified 1,340 people , more people than any previous pope. The Vatican asserts he canonized more people than the combined tally of his predecessors during the last five centuries, and from a far greater variety of cultures. Whether he had canonized more saints than all previous popes put together, as is sometimes also claimed, is difficult to prove, as the records of many early canonizations are incomplete, missing, or inaccurate. However, it is known that his abolition of the office of Promotor Fidei (“Promoter of the Faith” and the origin of the term Devil’s advocate) streamlined the process.
We want to thank you for the effort and time you have put in this marvelous work of yours .
God Bless and thanks you .
London Ontario Canada
Pope John Paul II is a very Holy Man and I pray to him every day to help our Country, and to our Lady for Help.
We need help our Church needs help, and so does the Cath. People
THANK YOU HOLY FATHER POPE JOHN PAUL II, PRAY FOR US.
He was living papa and we should emulate him
Only Pope I know and understood from books, news and photos and will be always in my heart till death.
he was my leader( pope johnpaul ii)
FOR YOU I STUDY TO BE A PRIEST.