Birth Name:  Karol Józef Wojtyła
Born: May 18, 1920 at Wadowice, Poland
Died:  April 2, 2005 at Vatican City, Italy (Age 85)
Elected: October 16, 1978, the 264th Roman Pontiff
Canonized: April 27, 2014
Pontificate:  First non-Italian pope in 450 years; Instrumental in bringing the fall of Communism in native Poland, triggering domino effect throughout the Eastern Bloc; Narrowly survived assassination attempt in 1981 before publicly forgiving his w0uld-be assassin; Pointed defender of human life at all stages;  Wrote profusely on dignity of the human body;  Declared with virtual infallibility the necessity of the male-only priesthood; Began the globally influential Catholic World Youth Day phenomenon; Became the most traveled pope in history, drawing millions to public celebration of the Mass; Suffered publicly with Parkinsons while decrying unethical use of science to develop treatments for such diseases.
Motto:  Totus Tuus ("Totally Yours")

Excerpts from Magisterial Teaching

ENCYLICALS

LETTERS & EXHORTATIONS