Contribution to Book
“John Paul II, Pope (1920-2005; pontificate from 1978).”
The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization
(2011)
Abstract
Pope John Paul II was born Karol Jósef Wojtylstroka in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920. He died on April 2, 2005. Wojtylstroka was an avid soccer player and skier, as well as a theologian, philosopher, poet, actor, and playwright. He studied Polish literature and philology at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. When the Nazis invaded Poland, Wojtylstroka engaged in peaceful cultural resistance through his clandestine outlawed theater group. After his ordination to the Catholic priesthood, Wojtylstroka proceeded to earn two doctoral degrees, one in theology, the second in philosophy. After years working as a parish priest, Wojtylstroka became a university professor, teaching philosophy and moral theology at the Catholic University of Lublin in Poland. He later became the youngest bishop in Poland. At the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) Wojtylstroka participated in every session, and …
Keywords
- Pope St. John Paul II
Publication Date
2011
Editor
George Thomas Kurian
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
ISBN
9781405157629
Citation Information
Jeffrey Morrow. "“John Paul II, Pope (1920-2005; pontificate from 1978).”" OxfordThe Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization Vol. 2 (2011) p. 1251 - 1253 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jeffrey-morrow/45/