Pope 264
John Paul II
The 264th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 16, 22.X.1978 to 2.IV.2005. His secular name is listed as Karol Wojtyła. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Wadowice (Kraków).
Why this pontificate matters
John Paul II gives the modern section a global scale. His long pontificate belongs to late Cold War politics, mass travel, media visibility, catechesis, and a changing relationship between Rome and local churches.
The modern timeline compresses many familiar names into a short historical distance.
Future biographies should stay sourced, charitable, and explanatory.
Predecessor
- John Paul I · succeeded in see · documented
John Paul II follows John Paul I as Bishop of Rome in the Holy See's sequential list of Supreme Pontiffs.
Successor
- Benedict XVI · succeeded in see · documented
Benedict XVI follows John Paul II as Bishop of Rome in the Holy See's sequential list of Supreme Pontiffs.