Karol Józef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his election to the papacy in October 1978, was born in Wadowice, a small town 50 kms. from Krakow, on May 18, 1920. It was the second of two children of Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His elder brother Edmund (medical) died in 1932 and his father (army officer) in 1941.
After World War II and studied at the major seminary of Krakow, newly opened, and the Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his priestly ordination in Krakow on November 1, 1946.
The July 4, 1958 by Pius XII was appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow. He was ordained a bishop on September 28, 1958 in Wawel Cathedral (Krakow), from the hands of Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak.
The January 13, 1964 was appointed archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal on June 26, 1967.
Since the beginning of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II completed 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As Bishop of Rome he has visited 317 of the 333 parishes.
John Paul II, Pope to be holy
death did not stop his work and love of his followers. 1st. In May, six years after his death, Pope John Paul II will be beatified and a step of the appointment of a saint.
For thousands of people around the World the process of beatification of Karol Wojtyla officially recognize what has already proclaimed, even before his death, John Paul II was a holy man. On April 2, 2005, after learning the news of his death, voices were raised and posters at St. Peter's Square, shouting "Santo Subito", ie directly open to the canonization process, skipping the intermediate step of beatification, unprecedented event in modern times.
His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, considered the request and immediately started the process, but skip the beatification. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the canonization or beatification given to "those whose lives were marked by the exercise of heroic virtue and only after it has been tested by well known reputation of holiness and conclusive arguments." In the case of John Paul II, his record has 251 miracles attributed to his intercession with God, but it was the healing of a French nun Marie Simon Pierre, which was established by a commission of 30 cardinals and bishops and is now key his elevation to the altars. According to the story, the nun suffered from Parkinson's disease, the pope himself suffered in his later years, the death of the Pope she decided to ask for his recovery. Two months after the disease exceeded Inexplicably, even for doctors and scientists. "John Paul II cured me. It was the work of God, through his intercession, "he said. Now they wait for the investigation and corroboration of a second miracle to be declared saint" Papa came the cold. "The press office of the Holy See detailed the activities held in the coming hours. Everything starts today with a vigil of preparation in the Circus Maximus in Rome. The beatification ceremony will be tomorrow from two in the morning, when Guatemala. shall be presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. Then, all faithful can visit the remains of the new Blessed, who will be exposed in Altar of the Confession of St. Peter's Basilica. Monday will be a mass
