Pope Saint John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II; Italian: Giovanni Paolo II; Polish: Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła) was head of the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. John Paul II was the second longest-serving pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX, posthumously, he has been referred to by some Catholics as "St. John Paul the Great", although the title has no official recognition. He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate.
