Pope John Paul II: The First Non-Italian Pope in Over 400 Years
On this day in history, October 16, 1978, Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected pope and took the regnal name “Pope John Paul II.” This marked the first time in over 400 years that a non-Italian had been chosen to lead the Catholic Church. The election of John Paul II occurred on the eighth ballot during the second conclave held in 1978, shortly after the death of Pope John Paul I. John Paul II chose his name to honor his predecessor.
John Paul II’s journey to the papacy began in Wadowice, Poland, where he was born on May 18, 1920. He was the youngest of three children born to Karol Wojtyła and Emilia Kaczorowska. His early life was marked by tragedy as he lost both of his parents and his brother by the time he was 20 years old.
Despite his difficult circumstances, John Paul II found solace in the theater. He was heavily involved in theater activities, even organizing a clandestine theater group. This passion for the arts would shape his character and his future as a leader.
World War II and the Nazi occupation of Poland disrupted John Paul II’s plans for the priesthood. However, he continued his studies in secret at an underground seminary in Kraków. After the war, he pursued his studies openly at the major seminary of the Archdiocese of Kraków and later at the Jagellonian University.
John Paul II was ultimately ordained as a priest on November 1, 1946. His dedication and scholarly pursuits led to his appointment as the auxiliary bishop of Kraków in 1958. Six years later, he became the Archbishop of Kraków and was later elevated to the College of Cardinals.
John Paul II participated in the conclave that elected Pope John Paul I in August 1978. However, John Paul I’s sudden death only 33 days into his papacy necessitated another conclave. After just three days and eight ballots, John Paul II was elected as the new pope. The announcement of his papacy, delivered by Cardinal Pericle Felici, initially caused confusion among the crowd due to the unfamiliarity of his birth name, “Carolum Wojtyła.” The polyglot Pope John Paul II addressed the crowd in Italian, explaining that he was called to the papacy “from a far country” and expressing his initial fear of the nomination.
During his papacy, which lasted until his death on April 2, 2005, John Paul II visited the United States seven times. His impact on the Catholic Church and the world was significant, leading to calls for his canonization shortly after his death. He was beatified in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI and officially declared a saint along with Pope John XIII in 2014 by Pope Francis.
Source: www.foxnews.com/lifestyle
Author: Christine Rousselle
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