# Pope John Paul II

_Pope, cardinal, bishop, priest, author_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pope-john-paul-ii
Last updated: 2026-11-05

> Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century, as well as the third longest-serving pope in history, after St. Peter and Pius IX. In addition to this, he was an important philosopher and theologian of the 20th century.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 18 May 1920 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Holy Father John Paul II Family Home in Wadowice ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P19))
- **Died:** 2 April 2005 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P570))
- **Place of death:** Rome ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Poland; Vatican City ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P27))
- **Occupation:** transitional deacon; Latin Catholic priest; latin catholic deacon; Catholic bishop; poet; politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P106))
- **Education:** Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas; Theology faculty of the Jagiellonian University; John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P69))
- **Official website:** vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/index.htm ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P856))
- **Positions held:** Pope (16 October 1978 – 2 April 2005); Vice-President of the Polish Episcopal Conference (1969–1978); San Cesareo in Palatio (28 June 1967 – 2 April 2005); cardinal (26 June 1967 – 2 April 2005); Archbishop of Kraków (13 January 1964 – 16 October 1978); titular bishop (31 August 1958 – 13 January 1964); titular bishop (4 July 1958 – 31 August 1958); auxiliary bishop (4 July 1958 – 13 January 1964) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P39))
- **Awards:** Order of the Smile; Order of St. Gregory the Great; Order of Pius IX; Order of the Golden Spur; Armia Krajowa Cross; honorary doctor of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow; Knight of St. Sylvester; honorary citizen of Łódź; Order Ecce Homo; Aquinas Medal; Gold Olympic Order; Gold medal of Galicia; Order of the White Eagle; Time Person of the Year; Order of Bethlehem ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989#P166))

## Questions

**When was Pope John Paul II born?**  
Pope John Paul II was born on 18 May 1920 in Holy Father John Paul II Family Home in Wadowice.

**What positions has Pope John Paul II held?**  
Positions held by Pope John Paul II include: Pope (1978–2005); Vice-President of the Polish Episcopal Conference (1969–1978); San Cesareo in Palatio (1967–2005); cardinal (1967–2005); Archbishop of Kraków (1964–1978).

**Where did Pope John Paul II study?**  
Pope John Paul II was educated at Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Theology faculty of the Jagiellonian University, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.

## Related

- [Pope Telesphorus](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-telesphorus)
- [Pope Gregory XIII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-gregory-xiii)
- [Pope Clement VII](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-clement-vii)
- [Pope Pius I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-pius-i)
- [Pope Boniface I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-boniface-i)
- [Pope Agapetus I](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-agapetus-i)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pope John Paul II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q989](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q989) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Pope John Paul II smile.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (CC BY 3.0 pl)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pope_John_Paul_II_smile.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pope John Paul II, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Pope John Paul II smile.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, CC BY 3.0 pl.

## Cite this page

"Pope John Paul II". DigiNepal. Last updated 5 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pope-john-paul-ii. Retrieved 5 November 2026.