Pope John Paul II
Videos
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 Pius IX
Videos
Pope Pius IX was head of the Catholic Church from 16 June 1846 until his death in February 1878.
Pope John Paul II
…2005. He was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century, as well as the third-longest-serving pope in history, after St. Peter and Pius IX. In addition to this, he was an important philosopher and theologian of the 20th century. In his youth, Wojtyła worked occasionally as a stage actor…
Portrait by Adolphe Braun, 1875
1871 portrait by George Peter Alexander Healy
The birthplace house of Pius IX in Senigallia
Illustration showing Mastai-Ferretti at his first Holy Mass in 1819