Today we commemorate the Feast of John Paul II, Pope of Rome. He was the Pope from October 16, 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. Before becoming a priest he was known as Karol Wojtyła. He was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, and lost his mother at the young age of nine and a brother at the age of 12. While at Krakow University, Germany invaded Poland and the university closed when the professors sent to concentration camps. His studies ended and be became a laborer in a stone quarry and a chemical plant. Though a dark time in his life, his father taught him prayer and later felt the calling to be a priest, thus studying in Krakow at the seminary and ordained in 1946 and later completed his doctorate degree in Rome and a professor of moral theology. He was known as “uncle” to his students so as not to disclose himself as a priest. They discussed many topics regarding love and later became his “theology of the body.” In 1978 when Albino Luciani , who was elected Pope and suddenly died one month later, he was elected Pope which shocked all, since he was not Italian. He was unique, since he was known as the Pope from afar and travelled around the world showing people love and inviting them not to fear, based on his life experiences. Later in May 1981, an assasin nation attempt was made, which he survived, and later went to the prison of the assasin and forgave him. He later died in April 2005 and Pope Benedict beutified him in 2013 and Pope Francis made him a Saint in 2015.
