John Paul II – The Best Pope Ever!

When, on October 16^th 1978, the Vatican council voted fifty-eight-year-old Cardinal Karol Wojtyla for Pope, this Pole was the first non-Italian Pope since 1523. Known as John Paul II, this Polish clergyman soon became has been a remarkable figure for Roman Catholics as well as for other creeds.

Born May 18^th 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Wojtyla seemed destined for a life dedicated to study and reflection. He studied poetry and drama at a Polish university, and during World War II he had two jobs while preparing for priesthood. In 1946 he was ordained; he earned a Ph.D. at Rome’s Angelicum Institute and a doctorate in theology at the Catholic University of Lublin.The brilliantness of this young priest was not dismissed and soon afterwards he became a university chaplain. Twenty-one years after he had begun his priesthood carrier, he became a cardinal and represented Poland several times abroad, until he reached the highest position within the Roman Catholic Church.

He immediately embraced his “job” with vigor and a high sense of responsibility, dedicating himself to the redefinition of the Church’s position towards its followers as well as to the Orthodox Church and Anglicanism. He made numerous journeys around the world, bringing a word of hope and peace to many troubled and poor countries. In 2000 (a Holy Year), with kind and altruistic ideals John Paul II asked forgiveness for the sins committed by Roman Catholics during its 2000-year-old history. He demonstrated a strong spirit  strength whenever necessary, but he did not write off flexibility. John Paul suffered two assassination attempts and always pardoned his aggressors. Afterwards, he offered the bullet of the May 13^th 1981 attack to Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal. Besides his Papal activities, his curriculum included the publication of an extensive ethical and theological work, as well as poetry and drama.

At the end of his life, he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. He grew weaker; however he decided to represent God until his death. Once more his dedication and devotion surprised and while some said he was too weak for the job, he held on to what he was named for to the end. His weakness was that of the flesh, but his spirit was of a saint; such combination had been unknown, in Rome, for some time until John Paul II. In 2005 he passed away and the world became a poorer place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II