John Paul II was born on 18 May 1920 in Holy Father John Paul II Family Home in Wadowice. A Polish-born pope, Karol Wojtyła became archbishop of Kraków and was elected pope in October 1978, the first non-Italian in 455 years. His long pontificate was marked by extensive travel to well over a hundred countries, an emphasis on human dignity and a conservative line on church doctrine. His support for the Solidarity movement in his homeland and his visits to Poland are widely seen as having played a part in the fall of communism in Europe. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981, improved relations with Judaism and other faiths, and was canonised in 2014.
Before and after
- 15 April 1920Birth of Richard von Weizsäcker
- from 19 April 1920 to 26 April 1920San Remo conference
- 26 April 1920Great Debate
- from 28 April 1920 to 18 October 1991Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
- 18 May 1920Birth of John Paul II
- 4 June 1920Treaty of Trianon
- 14 June 1920Death of Max Weber
- 25 July 1920Birth of Rosalind Franklin
- 10 August 1920Treaty of Sèvres
More in Art, literature & culture
- 1921Publication of İstiklâl Marşı
- 2 February 1922Publication of Ulysses
- 1932First edition of Venice Film Festival
- 8 July 1936Construction of Frankfurt Airport
- April 1937Construction of Ben Gurion Airport
- 1942Publication of The Stranger
The era
This moment belongs to the Modern era (1914 CE to 1945 CE), world wars and a changing world. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.