How old was pope john paul ii when he died

Top 10 Interesting Facts About Pope John Paul II

For 455 years, the Catholic Church had only Italian Pope’s. Enter Pope John Paul II and this centuries’ long tradition changed. Pope John Paul II was the first non- Italian pope in 455 years, also the first from a Slavic country.

Pope John Paul II was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland- he was named Karol Józef Wojtyla. He was orphaned at a pretty young age; after his mother’s death when he was 9, he grew quite close to his father and acknowledges him for his strong Christian faith. He later lost his only brother and father.

Starting out, Wojtyla took secret studies for the priesthood as he worked in a quarry and a chemical factory- ‘laborer by day, a priest by night’. He got ordained in 1946 and did pastoral work in France then proceeded to Rome for graduate studies. Wojtyla returned to Poland and started pastoral work, succeeding in youth ministry. He quickly rose the ranks in the church and was appointed Pope in 1978. He then adop Current pope of the catholic church!