John Paul II

John Paul II was Bishop of Rome and Vicar of Jesus Christ, successor of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and Sovereign of Vatican City. Karol Wojtyla, the successor of St. Peter, was born in Wadowice, Diocese of Krakow, on May 18, 1920; ordained priest on November 1, 1946; appointed Titular Bishop of Ombi on July 4, 1958; promoted to Archbishop of Krakow on January 13, 1964; proclaimed and created Cardinal on June 26, 1967; elected Pope on October 16, 1978; and installed on October 22, 1978. A passage by Julius Slowacki from 1848 hails a Slavonic Pope as all people's brother who will bring vitality and rebirth, teach love rather than reach for arms, and unite the world in brotherhood through the Spirit's presence.

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