Karol Józef Wojtyła was born in 1920 in Poland and lost both of his parents and brother at a young age. He entered the seminary in 1942 and was ordained as a priest in 1946. He became Pope John Paul II in 1978, the first non-Italian Pope in over 400 years, and he greatly expanded the global reach and popularity of the papacy through his extensive international travel over the next 27 years until his death in 2005.

1. John Paul II Exit

2. Menu Early life Church career Photos Pastoral trips Exit Death Podlasie Day We love our Pope Beatification

3. Karol Józef Wojtyła (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) was born in Wadowice in southern Poland. His mother, Emilia Kaczorowska, died in 1929 . H e was only nine years old. H is father supported him so that he could study. He had a sister, but she died when she was a little child. His brother was a doctor . He d ied when Karol was twelve. In fact, he grew up playing soccer . He was a goalkeeper . Exit

4. In 1942 he entered the underground seminary . Karol Wojtyła was ordained a priest on 1 November 1946 . H e stud ied theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas . This doctorate was based on the Latin dissertation Doctrina de fide apud S. Ioannem a Cruce . Exit

5. He was r eigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from October 16, 1978 until his death, making his the second-longest pontificate. He was the first Polish Pope and the first non-Italian Pope since the 16th century. Exit

6. During his pontificate, Pope John Paul II travelled to different countries 104 times. That is more than all previous popes put together . Exit

7. Pope John Paul II travelled extensively and came into contact with many different faiths. He even prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Dalai Lama visited Pope John Paul II eight times. Exit

8. John Paul II had a special relationship with Catholic youth. He established World Youth Day in 1984. His intention was to bring young Catholics from all parts of the world together to celebrate their faith. JP Two, We Love You Exit

9. We love him a lot. We often read his papers. We loved listen to him. John Paul II's most significant role was to teach people about Christianity. He wrote a lot of important documents They have long-lasting influence on the Church. Exit

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11. Before he was pope he used to camp and mountainhike with the youth. Exit

12. Exit On 31 March 2005 the Pope developed a very high fever . During the final days of the Pope's life, the lights were kept burning through the night . Thousands of people went to the Vatican . At about 15:30, John Paul II said his final words, "Let me go to the house of the Father ”.

13. He died in his private apartments, at 21:37 on 2 April 2005. Exit

14. We love our Pope John Paul II passed away. He is at our Lord’s house. At anniversary of his death - we honour our Pope; every year we have an assembly. We all pray for his beatification and canonization. In the next slide there are some photos, a poem by Karol Wojtyła and art. works about John Paul II by pupils at Primary School No 5, Bielsk Podlaski, Poland. Exit

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16. A poem by Karol Wojtyla The poem was written by him when he was in his twenties. Over This, Your White Grave Over this, your white grave the flowers of life in white-- so many years without you-- how many have passed out of sight? Over this your white grave covered for years, there is a stir in the air, something uplifting and, like death, beyond comprehension. Over this your white grave oh, mother, can such loving cease? for all his filial adoration a prayer: Give her eternal peace-- [Krakow, spring 1939] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/pope/poems/ Exit

17. Exit Art. Works by pupils at Primary School No 5, Bielsk Podlaski, Poland

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29. Beatification On May 9, 2005 Benedict XVI began the beatification process for his predecessor, John Paul II. Usually after a person's death five years must pass before the beatification process. During the furneal people’s cried of „Santo Subito”. Therefore the new Pope decided to start the beatification process immediately. The decision was announced on May 13, 2005. On 8 March 2007 announced that the diocesan phase of John Paul's cause for beatification is at an end. Exit

30. Podlasie Day On the 10 th June 1999 John Paul II visited our region, Podlasie. He came to Drohiczyn (a town 20 km from Bielsk Podlaski) to meet Catholic and Orhtodox faithfuls. To comemorate that day we celebrate the 10 th June as the Podlasie Day. Exit

31. Produced by: Marcin Łajkowski and Mateusz Młodzianowski under the supervision of Beata Lenartowicz Primary School No 5, Bielsk Podlaski, Poland Exit