In the history of the Catholic Church there have been but a few great popes who have made a change in history, Pope John Paul II is one of them. When he was young the Nazis occupied his home country, Poland. But despite this he managed to be ordain and to go college in Rome. He showed remarkable ability in his work for God and was quickly raised to bishop, cardinal, and finally he was elected pope. During his rise to the papacy he had spoke out against Communism, and they were upset that Karol had been elected pope. A hired assassin tried to kill him, and though the bullet came very close to a vital artery, he survived. And a few years later Karol helped bring around the downfall of Communism in Europe. Pope John Paul II has had a exciting, holy life, during which he has helped many people.
             Karol Joseph Wojtyla grew up in a hard time. He was born in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920.1 His father was a officer in the Polish Army, and his Mom was a school teacher. Karol enjoyed sports, especially soccer, skiing, kayaking and hiking. When he was young he developed a love of the theater. In his book Witness To Hope, George Weigel stated:
             Stealing quietly through Krakow's blacked out streets, the actors and their audience arrived at an apartment in the city's Debniki district.... As the performance unfolded behind closed blinds, Nazi loudspeakers on the street outside began blaring the news of another German victory. The 22 year-old actor then speaking, an underground seminary student named Karol Wojtyla, paid no attention whatsoever to the racket. Unfazed, he continued his recitation as if the harsh static of the occupation simply did not exist2
             He was 19 when the Nazis invaded Poland. During the time of Nazi occupation he made a living as a stonecutter so he could keep his work permit to avoid deportation. Despite a hard life he still clung on to his hope of a better life. He secretly pursu...