The Early Years Pope John Paul's original name before he became Pope was Karol Joseph Wojtyla. Karol Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice Poland. Emilia, Karol's mother died on April 13, 1929 and with no mother he began a spiritual devotion to the Virgin Mary. Karol and his father, Karol Wojtyla Sr., had become closer and they lived off the small military pension. The winter of 1930, Karol's older brother Edmund died. Karol was educated in a …showed first 75 words of 924 total…

…showed last 75 words of 924 total…Toronto for a two hour event. He had touched the hearts of the youth though the power of his words. A Mark Pope John Paul II was the first of many things that other Popes could not do or have never done. He has lead the highest population of over one billion people. Without armies, without force, he proved that faith could change the world. He was infuriating, challenging, inspiring. He was the greatest Pope.