Pope John Paul II
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Pope John Paul II was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century,
John Paul II in 1988
The wedding portrait of John Paul II's parents, Emilia and Karol Wojtyła Sr.
Wojtyła on the day of his first communion
Wojtyła (second from right) in a Baudienst forced labour work crew during the occupation of Poland (1939–1945), c. 1941
Pope Benedict XVI
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Pope Benedict XVI was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2005 until his resignation in 2013. Following his resignation, he chose to be known as "pope emeritus", a title
Pope John Paul II
…consecrated or co-consecrated many of the world's bishops, and ordained many priests. Pope John Paul II died on 2 April 2005, and was succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI. Pope John Paul II has been credited with fighting against dictatorships and with helping to end communist rule in his native Poland and the rest of…
Benedict XVI in 2010
The birthplace of Joseph Alois Ratzinger in Marktl, Bavaria
Palais Holnstein in Munich, the residence of Benedict as Archbishop of Munich and Freising
Cardinal Ratzinger in Rome, 1988