\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \qj \f1 \fs24 \b John Paul II (elected 16 October 1978)\par
\b0 Karol Wojtyla is the first Slavic pope and the first non-Italia
n pope since the days of Adrian VI (1522-1523). Born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, a town 50 kms from Krakow, Wojtyla came from a family of modest means. He studied language and literature at the University of Krakow, interrupting his studies for the dura
tion of the war and then taking an honors degree in theology in 1946. In the same year he was ordained priest, having received his vocation during the war years. Later, he studied at the International Institute of the Papacy in Rome and then once again i
n the University of Krakow, this time in the field of philosophy. He then taught ethics in Lublin and distinguished himself as one of the leading Polish thinkers in this field. In 1963, he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI and then cardi
nal in 1967. Wojtyla engaged himself successfully in the struggle against the repressive communist regime. He was an active participant at the Vatican Council II (1962-65), especially distinguishing himself in the debate on religious freedom. Wojtyla th
erefore enjoyed some reputation and respect already when, by surprise, the conclave of October 1978, by a clear majority of votes, elected him a youthful 58-year-old Pope. In his inaugural speech, John Paul II declared that he intended to continue with t
he exact enactment of the rules laid down in the Second Vatican Council and that he saw his own role as that of a ôwitness to universal love.ö In St PeterÆs Square on May 13, 1981, he was seriously injured by a gun attack by a young Turk, Ali Agτa. The P
opeÆs preferred means of spreading the message of the Gospel and for cementing the unity of the Church is to make frequent pastoral visits around the world. In the time that he has been pope, John Paul II has made countless apostolic visits abroad. His e
ncyclicals form an extremely important part of his papacy. Some of them are particularly worth mentioning. \i Redemptor hominis\i0 (March 1979) which addressed liberty and human dignity was his first; \i Laborem exercens\i0 (September 1981) addressed t
he world of work; \i Slavorum apostoli \i0 (July 1985) was on the union of Europeans; \i Veritas splendor\i0 (August 1993) considered the need for bioethic truth; and \i Evangelium vitae \i0 (March 1995) was on the inviolable value of human life.\i
