Pope Saint John Paul II commemorated on liturgical feast

The liturgical feast of Saint John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyla, is observed to honor the legacy of one of the most influential pontiffs in recent history. Serving as Roman Pontiff from October 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005, his nearly 27-year papacy was the third longest in the history of the Catholic Church.

Born in Wadowice, Poland, in 1920, Wojtyla’s early life was marked by significant personal loss and the political turmoil of the Nazi occupation of Poland. He studied at Jagiellonian University in Krakow and was ordained to the priesthood in 1946. His papacy is noted for its role in the fall of communism in Europe and his global travels, which helped prepare the Church for the 21st century.