John Paul II

Karol Wojtyla made history in 1978 by becoming the first Polish pope of Roman Catholic Church and first non-Italian pope in more than 400 years.

Picture of young pope John Paul II

Timeline of Karol Wojtyla's life:

May 18, 1920 - Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in Wadowice, Poland, at 7 Koscielna Street. The little boy nicknamed Lolek is the third and last child of Karol, an officer in the Polish Army, and Emilia. His brother Edmund was born in 1906 and a sister, Olga, died in infancy in 1914.
1938 - After Karol Jr. graduates from high school, the Wojtylas move from Wadowice to Krakow. Karol Jr. attends Jagiellonian University until World War II begins in September 1939.
1941 - Wojtyla and his friends start an underground theater, called the Rhapsodic Theater, to present works in Polish in defiance of the Nazis. During the day, Wojtyla works in quarries and chemical factories.
1942 - Wojtyla joins an underground seminary organized by Archbishop Sapieha.
1946 - Wojtyla is ordained by Cardinal Sapieha to become a priest and celebrates his first Mass.
1946-1948 - Wojtyla studies in Rome, where he earns a doctorate in philosophy. After returning to Poland, he also earns a doctorate in Sacred Theology from Jagellonian University in December 1948.
1958 - Wojtyla is consecrated as a bishop.
1962-1965 - Wojtyla participates in Vatican II in Rome. He sides with the reformers who want to modernize the church. He also contributes to a document that states that the Church no longer considers Jews responsible for Christ's death.
March 8, 1964 - Wojtyla is ordained as Archbishop of Krakow.
June 26, 1967 - In a secret consistory, Wojtyla is elevated to cardinal. Two days later, he is formally installed in a Vatican ceremony.
October 16, 1978 - Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected to be the 264th pope, the first non-Italian in 455 years. He is also the youngest pope since 1846. He takes the name John Paul II to honor his three immediate predecessors.
October 2, 1979 - Addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.
May 13, 1981 - Pope John Paul II is shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in Saint Peter's Square. He is wounded in the abdomen, arm and hand. Two others are wounded as well. Vatican Secretary of State Agostino Cardinal Casaroli takes over as temporary head of the Roman Catholic Church.
December 27, 1983 - The pope meets with Ali Agca at Rebibbia Prison.
January 10, 1984 - The United States re-establishes full diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
December 26, 1994 - Time Magazine names Pope John Paul II its Man of the Year.
October 5, 1995 - He addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, commemorating the organization's 50th anniversary.
March 16, 1998 - The Vatican releases a formal apology to Jews for the Church's failure to do more to prevent the Holocaust.
March 12, 2000 - Apologizes for the Church's mistreatment of Jews, non-Catholic Christians, women, the poor and minorities over the last 2,000 years.
March 16, 2004 - With 25 years and 5 months as pope, John Paul II becomes the third longest serving pontiff in history, behind St. Peter's 32 years and Pope Pius IX's 31 years 7 months.
June 15, 2004 - Pope John Paul II asks forgiveness for the Inquisition, "for errors committed in the service of truth through use of methods that had nothing to do with the Gospel."
February 1, 2005 - Hospitalized with a respiratory infection.
February 9, 2005 - For the first time in his papacy, John Paul II does not perform the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Vatican.
February 11, 2005 - Is released from the hospital.
February 24, 2005 - Re-hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital after relapsing with the flu. Successfully undergoes a tracheotomy to relieve respiratory problems.
March 13, 2005 - Released from the hospital.
March 30, 2005 - The Vatican announces that the pope is being fed by a nasal tube.
March 31, 2005 - Given last rites after developing a high-fever and a urinary tract infection.
April 1, 2005 - The Vatican says in a written statement that the pope had suffered cardiocirculatory collapse and septic shock. The Vatican denied reports that the pope was in a coma and described his condition as "lucid, fully conscious."
April 2, 2005 - Pope John Paul II dies at 9:37 p.m. in his private apartment in the Vatican.
April 8, 2005 - His funeral takes place in Saint Peter's Square and he is buried in a crypt under Saint Peter's Basilica.
May 2005 - Pope Benedict XVI waives the wait period for review for beatification and canonization, which is at least five years after death.
May 1, 2011 - Is beatified, or declared "blessed," as a saint by his successor Pope Benedict XVI. A vial of Pope John Paul II's blood is displayed before the crowd.
July 5, 2013 - The Vatican announces that Pope John Paul II will be made a saint
April 27, 2014 - Is canonized a saint, along with Pope John XXIII.