A son of Poland who survived both the Nazi and Communist regime, Karol Wojtyla became a priest, and then a bishop, and then was elected Pope of the Catholic Church in 1978 and took on the name John Paul II. 

Young Karol was a poet, an athlete, a philosopher, and a deep man of prayer.  As Pope, he made over 100 apostolic journeys across the globe and deeply loved human love, devoting the first 5 years of his teaching to what is now known as "The Theology of the Body," a Scriptural reflection on how the love between a husband and a wife mirrors the life-giving love of the Trinity. 

He loved the youth, establishing the global World Youth Day events. He loved Mary, citing the Rosary as one of his favorite devotions. Above all, he loved Jesus Christ, clinging to the Cross throughout his pontificate and his last days suffering under Parkinson's disease until his death in 2005.