John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years.He was pope for 27 years, making him the second longest serving pope after Pope Pius IX who held the office for 31 years and seven months. Pope John Paul II (KAROL JÓZEF WOJTYLA), elected Pope on 16 October 1978, was born in Wadowice, Poland, on 18 May 1920. He was a writer, known for The Jeweller's Shop (1988), Teatr telewizji (1953) and Our God's Brother (1997). Pope John Paul II [Szulc, Tad] on Amazon.com. Pope John Paul II was leader of the Roman Catholic church from 1978 until he died in 2005; he was the first pope in many years who wasn't from Italy. John Paul II was pope of the Catholic Church from 1978 till 2005. Trivia (5) Was elected Pope John Paul I on 26 August 1978. John Paul II was the most traveled pope in history with 104 international trips. Even in his short tenure, he left a lasting imprint on the minds and hearts of the people. His reign of 33 days is among the shortest in papal history. Pope John Paul II was born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Malopolskie, Poland as Karol Józef Wojtyla. Who Was Pope John Paul II? Despite being very short, his reign was one that radiated warmth, love, faith, hope and humanity. Lesson Summary. Author Liz Kelly remembers Pope John Paul II … *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL I 1912 17 October Born at "Forno di Canale (Belluno), (actually at Canale d'Argordo), son of Giovanni Luciani and Bortola Tancon; was baptized the same day at home, by the midwife, as he was in danger of death. Pope John Paul II and His Message of Forgiveness. He was the first Pope to call himself by a new name since Pope Lando in 913. As the spiritual head of more than one billion Catholics and a world statesman of immense stature and influence He was also the first and only Slavic pope. He died on April 2, 2005 in Vatican City. Pope John Paul I was the Pope from 26 August 1978 to his sudden death on 28 September 1978. John Paul II became Pope on 16 October 1978. He was known as "the Smiling Pope". His elder brother Edmund, a physician, died in 1932, and his father, Karol, a non-commissioned officer in the army, died in 1941. Pope John Paul II made history in 1978 by becoming the first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. Cardinal Luciani was elected Pope in 1978, John Paul I was the first pope to combine the names of John and Paul as a Pope as his way of paying tribute to Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI. ... John Paul II: A Biographical Sketch ... elected March 13, 2013. Find a brief biography of Pope Francis and activities.