I remember when Pope Paul died. Next came the short lived John Paul. I thought that it was neat that the new pope cleverly combined the names of the previous two popes. But John Paul One was soon gone AND could you believe it. The picked a Polish guy !! Now, I not Roman Catholic, but the Polish part of me was happy at this choice. I support this pope most of the time. | |
Pope John Paul II (1920- ) is said to be the most recognized person in the world. He is the most traveled Pope in the 2,000 year history of the Church and speaks eight languages. Born Karol Joseph Wojtyla (pronounced Voy-tee-wah) in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920 to an administrative officer in the Polish army and a former schoolteacher. In 1978, at the age of 58 the College of Cardinals elected him to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first non-italian chosen as Pope in 456 years and the youngest in this century. At age 61 he suffered serious wounds during an assassination attempt. My older son, Zachary, has become "Zachariah Hyacenth" and is on the road to become a pope down the line. |