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Karol Józef Wojtyla was born in 1920 at Wadowice, in Poland. Ordained
a priest in 1946, he taught ethics at Kraków and Lublin universities. He
was consecrated a bishop in 1958, became archbishop of Kraków in
1964, was a prominent spokesman for the Polish Church at the Second
Vatican Council, and was made a cardinal in 1967.
He was named Pope in 1978 as successor of John Paul I, and he was the
first non-Italian pope elected since the Dutch Adrian VI (1522-1523) and
the first Polish pope. As pope, John Paul II has continued to implement
the decisions of the Second Vatican Council. He has traveled widely,
increasing the international character of the papacy and improving
relations with other religions. He kept a conservative approach on issues
relating to women and life defense. In 1981 and 1991, John Paul issued two
encyclicals on social issues and he actively addressed the problem of the
pace in the world. |
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