Saint John Paul II

St. John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła, was the 264th pope of the Catholic Church. He served from 1978 until his death in 2005, making him one of the longest-reigning popes in history. As pope, he was a strong advocate for human rights and played a significant role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe. He was also known for his extensive international travel, his outreach to young people, and his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. John Paul II was beatified in 2011 and canonized in 2014, becoming St. John Paul II.