St. John Paul II

Karol Wojtyła was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He lost his mother, brother and father while still young. During Nazi occupation he worked and pursued clandestine studies for the priesthood; under Communist rule he served as a priest and then bishop.

Elected pope in 1978, he traveled extensively, addressed human dignity and religious freedom, and began World Youth Day. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981, later meeting the man who shot him. In his final years, illness visibly limited him. He died on April 2, 2005.

His optional memorial is October 22, the anniversary of the inauguration of his papal ministry. He is often invoked by young people and families. His day lends itself to prayer for people carrying illness in public view, as well as for leaders whose decisions affect human dignity. St. John Paul II, pray for us!