Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920–2005), born Karol Jozef Wojtyla, was beatified on May 1, 2011. He reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005, at the age of 84. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, known for his humanitarian and peace-keeping efforts worldwide. His books include Crossing The Threshold of Hope, Love And Responsibility, and Gift and Mystery.