The great light within flashes, and one sees the most radiant face on the public scene, a presence so commanding as to have arrested a generation of humankind, who wonder gratefully whether the Lord Himself had a hand in shaping the special charisma of this servant of the servants of God.
-William F. Buckley Jr. Time Magazine

Born Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice, Poland, at the age of 58 the College of Cardinals elected him to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first non-Italian to be chosen as Pope in 456 years. He served the third longest papacy following Saint Peter and Pope Pius IX.

He spoke out against Nazism, racism, oppression, secularism, poverty, and unrestrained capitalism. He also became known as the "Pilgrim Pope" for having travelled greater distances than all his predecessors have combined. According to John Paul II, the trips symbolized bridge-building efforts between nations and religions, attempting to remove divisions created through history. He has canonized more saints than all his predecessors combined, including the first Native American saint.

He is the author of seven books, four plays two of which became films, and two books of poetry.

Read more about the Pope at Wikipedia and the Vatican's Website