John Paul II

John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla; 1920– ), first non-Italian pope elected in 450 years (1978). A Pole who was archbishop of Krakow before becoming pope, John Paul II has maintained a theologically conservative position on such controversial issues as birth control, abortion, and liberation theology. He has been outspoken on world events, and has spent much of his time traveling to many countries around the world.