eFinder

eFinder

Home › Article

Pope John Paul II Fast Facts

Krdo · · 1478 words · By CNN Newssource
open_in_new Read the original article: https://krdo.com/news/2026/05/12/pope-john-paul-ii-fast-facts/

fact_checkFact-Check Results

68 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 58
verified Verified By Reference 6
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 1
verified
“He was canonized as a saint on April 27, 2014.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple web sources (CNN, etc.) confirm that Pope John Paul II was canonized on April 27, 2014.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck twice and suffered severe blood l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Pop…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 2 April 2005, at 21:37 CEST (UTC+2), Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. His funeral, held on 8 April, was one of the largest g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_John…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first no…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Birth date: May 18, 1920”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple web sources explicitly state his birth date as May 18, 1920.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck twice and suffered severe blood l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Pop…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 2 April 2005, at 21:37 CEST (UTC+2), Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. His funeral, held on 8 April, was one of the largest g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_John…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first no…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Death date: April 2, 2005”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and History.com confirm he died on April 2, 2005.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 13 May 1981, in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded by Mehmet Ali Ağca while he was entering the square. The Pope was struck twice and suffered severe blood l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Pop…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 2 April 2005, at 21:37 CEST (UTC+2), Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. His funeral, held on 8 April, was one of the largest g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_John…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first no…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Birth place: Wadowice, Poland”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and multiple biographical sources confirm he was born in Wadowice, Poland.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Holy Father John Paul II Family Home in Wadowice, Poland was the family home and birthplace of Karol Józef Wojtyła, who was elected Pope John Paul II in 1978, and canonised after his death. Its ad…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Father_John_Paul_II_Famil…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first no…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wadowice (Polish: [vadɔˈvit͡sɛ] ) is a town in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, 50 kilometres (31 miles) southwest of Kraków with 17,455 inhabitants (2022), situated on the Skawa rive…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadowice
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Birth name: Karol Jozef Wojtyla”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other sources confirm his birth name was Karol Józef Wojtyła.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 2 April 2005, at 21:37 CEST (UTC+2), Pope John Paul II died at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. His funeral, held on 8 April, was one of the largest g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_John…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The early life of Karol Józef Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II, covers the period in his life from his birth in 1920 to his ordination to the priesthood in 1946.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_of_Pope_John_Paul_I…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Pope John Paul II bibliography contains a list of works by Pope John Paul II, and works about his life and theology. Pope John Paul II reigned as pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatic…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II_bibliography
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Father: Karol Wojtyla, officer in the Polish Army”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web sources confirm his father was Karol Wojtyla and that he was an officer in the Polish Army.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II[b] (born Karol Józef Wojtyła;[c] 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — His father, the senior Karol Wojtyla, was an army officer, and his mother, Emilia, was a school teacher when they married. Her health was never great, and of her three children, only two survived — he…
https://aleteia.org/2025/05/25/4-most-recent-popes-and-3-wor…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — His father was Karol Wojtyla, an officer in the Polish Army and his mother was Emilia Wojtyla.He was the first non-Italian Pope in 400 years. Pope John Paul II was famous for his influence in bringing…
https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2018/05/happy-98th-birthda…
check_circle
“Mother: Emilia Wojtyla”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm his mother was Emilia Wojtyla.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II[b] (born Karol Józef Wojtyła;[c] 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — While in third grade, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope St. John Paul II, suffered the death of his mother, Emilia. Despite the many words spoken during his lengthy papacy, John Paul II rarely spoke abou…
https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/john-paul-ii-and-our…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — But St. John Paul II had an acute awareness of the importance of family life, and it is easy to see why when you meet the family he was born into 100 years ago on May 18, 2020. Emilia Wojtyla, the lov…
https://aleteia.org/2020/05/18/the-three-obscure-polish-cath…
check_circle
“Education: Doctorate in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, Jagiellonian University”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web sources, including CNN and a biographical site, state he earned a Doctorate in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Jagiellonian University.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Pope John Paul II attempted to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the spirit of ecumenism, holding atheism as the greatest threat.Main arti…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_Paul_II
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Education: Doctorate in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, Jagiellonian University. Other Facts. Pope John Paul II died in April 2005 at the age of 84. His official cause of death was sept…
https://www.cnn.com/2013/07/02/world/pope-john-paul-ii-fast-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Karol received a doctorate in Philosophy and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, Jagiellonian University. Saint Pope John Paul II was canonized on April 27, 2013, at a celebration in Saint Peter's Square,…
https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2022/05/happy-102th-birthd…
verified
“Pope John Paul II died in April 2005 at the age of 84.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Although the specific 'Evidence for claim 8' section was empty, the evidence provided for claims 1 and 2 (Wikipedia) explicitly states he died on April 2, 2005, at the age of 84.
help
“His official cause of death was septic shock and cardio-circulatory collapse.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
Although the specific 'Evidence for claim 9' section was empty, the evidence provided for claim 7 (CNN) explicitly states: 'His official cause of death was septic shock and cardio-circulatory collapse.'
schedule
“He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease, arthritis and other ailments for several years before his death.”
PENDING
schedule
“Upon his election in 1978, John Paul II was the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years.”
PENDING
schedule
“First pope to visit the White House.”
PENDING
schedule
“First modern pope to visit a synagogue.”
PENDING
schedule
“First pope to visit Cuba.”
PENDING
schedule
“The most widely traveled pope in history.”
PENDING
schedule
“Canonized more saints than any other pope.”
PENDING
schedule
“Created 232 cardinals.”
PENDING
schedule
“Reestablished diplomatic relations with Great Britain after a 450-year break.”
PENDING
schedule
“In January 1984, reestablished diplomatic relations with the United States which had been broken since 1867.”
PENDING
schedule
“Established diplomatic relations with Israel and with the PLO.”
PENDING
schedule
“Karol Jozef Wojtyla is born in Wadowice, Poland, at 7 Koscielna Street.”
PENDING
schedule
“The little boy nicknamed Lolek is the third and last child of Karol... and Emilia.”
PENDING
schedule
“His brother Edmund was born in 1906 and a sister, Olga, died in infancy in 1914.”
PENDING
schedule
“After Karol Jr. graduates from high school, the Wojtylas move from Wadowice to Krakow.”
PENDING
schedule
“Karol Jr. attends Jagiellonian University until World War II begins in September 1939.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla and his friends start an underground theater, called the Rhapsodic Theater”
PENDING
schedule
“During the day, Wojtyla works in quarries and chemical factories.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla joins an underground seminary organized by Archbishop Sapieha.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla is ordained by Cardinal Sapieha to become a priest and celebrates his first Mass.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla studies in Rome, where he earns a doctorate in philosophy.”
PENDING
schedule
“he also earns a doctorate in Sacred Theology from Jagellonian University in December 1948.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla is consecrated as a bishop.”
PENDING
schedule
“Wojtyla participates in Vatican II in Rome.”
PENDING
schedule
“He also contributes to a document that states that the Church no longer considers Jews responsible for Christ’s death.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 8, 1964 – Wojtyla is ordained as Archbishop of Krakow.”
PENDING
schedule
“June 26, 1967 – In a secret consistory, Wojtyla is elevated to cardinal.”
PENDING
schedule
“October 16, 1978 – Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected to be the 264th pope”
PENDING
schedule
“He is also the youngest pope since 1846.”
PENDING
schedule
“He takes the name John Paul II to honor his three immediate predecessors.”
PENDING
schedule
“October 2, 1979 – Addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.”
PENDING
schedule
“May 13, 1981 – Pope John Paul II is shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in Saint Peter’s Square.”
PENDING
schedule
“He is wounded in the abdomen, arm and hand.”
PENDING
schedule
“Vatican Secretary of State Agostino Cardinal Casaroli takes over as temporary head of the Roman Catholic Church.”
PENDING
schedule
“December 27, 1983 – The Pope meets with Ali Agca at Rebibbia Prison.”
PENDING
schedule
“January 10, 1984 – The United States reestablishes full diplomatic relations with the Vatican.”
PENDING
schedule
“December 26, 1994 – Time Magazine names Pope John Paul II its Man of the Year.”
PENDING
schedule
“October 5, 1995 – He addresses the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, commemorating the organization’s 50th anniversary.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 16, 1998 – The Vatican releases a formal apology to Jews for the Church’s failure to do more to prevent the Holocaust.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 12, 2000 – Apologizes for the Church’s mistreatment of Jews, non-Catholic Christians, women, the poor and minorities over the last 2,000 years.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 16, 2004 – With 25 years and 5 months as pope, John Paul II becomes the third longest serving pontiff in history”
PENDING
schedule
“June 15, 2004 – Pope John Paul II asks forgiveness for the Inquisition”
PENDING
schedule
“February 1, 2005 – Hospitalized with a respiratory infection.”
PENDING
schedule
“February 9, 2005 – For the first time in his papacy, John Paul II does not perform the Ash Wednesday Mass at the Vatican.”
PENDING
schedule
“February 11, 2005 – Is released from the hospital.”
PENDING
schedule
“February 24, 2005 – Re-hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital after relapsing with the flu.”
PENDING
schedule
“Successfully undergoes a tracheotomy to relieve respiratory problems.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 13, 2005 – Released from the hospital.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 30, 2005 – The Vatican announces that the Pope is being fed by a nasal tube.”
PENDING
schedule
“March 31, 2005 – Given last rites after developing a high-fever and a urinary tract infection.”
PENDING
schedule
“April 1, 2005 – The Vatican says in a written statement that the Pope had suffered cardiocirculatory collapse and septic shock.”
PENDING
schedule
“April 2, 2005 – Pope John Paul II dies at 9:37 p.m. in his private apartment in the Vatican.”
PENDING
schedule
“April 8, 2005 – His funeral takes place in Saint Peter’s Square and he is buried in a crypt under Saint Peter’s Basilica.”
PENDING
schedule
“May 2005 – Pope Benedict XVI waives the wait period for review for beatification and canonization”
PENDING
schedule
“May 1, 2011 – Is beatified, or declared “blessed,” as a saint by his successor Pope Benedict XVI.”
PENDING
schedule
“July 5, 2013 – The Vatican announces that Pope John Paul II will be made a saint.”
PENDING
schedule
“April 27, 2014 – Is canonized a saint, along with Pope John XXIII.”
PENDING
schedule
“November 10, 2020 – An internal Vatican investigation concludes that Pope John Paul II was warned about allegations of sexual impropriety by Theodore McCarrick, but chose to promote him to Archbishop of Washington anyway”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.