Pope Saint John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II) born Karol Józef Wojtyła (Polish: [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛf vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was Pope from 16 October 1978 to his death in 2005. He was the second longest-serving pope in modern history and as a Pole the first non-Italian since Pope Adrian VI who died in 1523.Pope John Paul II is recognised as helping to end Communist rule in his native Poland and eventually all of Europe.
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