Saint John Paul II

I was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. When I was 9 years old my mother died, and at the age of 12 my brother Edmund died too. I liked sports and at university I was interested in theater and poetry. When the Nazi troops invaded Poland, university was closed. I was forced to work by the occupiers. Wanting to become a priest, I studied in a secret seminary. I finished my religious studies in 1946. I went to Rome for my doctorate, then came back to Poland and served in different parishes. In 1958 I became an auxiliary bishop and after 6 years the archbishop of Cracow. I participated in the Second Vatican Council. Because of my contributions to the Church, I was made a cardinal in 1967 by Pope Paul VI and in 1978 was elected pope. As pope I traveled to more than 100 countries. One day, I was shot in St. Peter’s Square, but I recovered and was able to forgive my attacker. I was an advocate for human rights. I held strong positions on topics such as capital punishment and the beauty of marriage. Also, I had a great influence on the fall of communism in Poland. I died at age of 84.