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Pope John Paul II's Real Name: Karol Józef Wojtyła
Pope John Paul II's real name was Karol Józef Wojtyła.
Pope John Paul II, head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, was born Karol Józef Wojtyła on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. He studied for the priesthood in secret during the Nazi occupation and later became archbishop of Kraków.
Elected on October 16, 1978, he chose the name John Paul II to honor his predecessor, John Paul I, who died after only 33 days as pope. He was the first non-Italian pope in more than 450 years.
His papacy was one of the longest in history. He is widely credited with supporting Poland's Solidarity movement in the 1980s. He died on April 2, 2005, and was declared a saint in 2014.
FAQ
Why did Wojtyła choose the name John Paul II?
To honor his predecessor, John Paul I, who died after 33 days.
Is John Paul II a saint?
Yes. He was canonized in 2014.