John Paul II reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City from 1978 until his death more than 26 years later. His name in Italian is Giovanni Paolo II, in Latin Ioannes Paulus PP. II and in Polish Jan Pawel II. His title was impressive - Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, Head of the College of Bishops, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the City State of the Vatican, Servant of the Servants of God Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II real name was Karol Józef Wojtyla. He was born in 1920 in southern Poland and was the youngest of three children. His mother died when he was still very young and his father supported him so that he could study. The Pope John Paul II could speak numerous languages - his native Polish, Spanish, English, German, Italian, French, Latin, Croatian, Russian and Portuguese.

During his reign the pope visited over 100 countries and took a stand against war, dictatorship, fascism, abortion, contraception and unrestrained capitalism, among others. His grave is located in the Vatican Basilica among other pontiff’s tombs.