Pope John Paul II: A Biography

Pope John Paul II led a life worthy of admiration, not only from the perspective of the Catholic community, but from all religions and sectors. From his dedication to unity between religions, to his staunch stand against violence and oppression, he will be remembered as one of religion's most dedicated leaders.

Karol Jozef Wojtyla was born on May 18th, 1920 to an army officer/tailor father and a school teacher mother. Wojtyla, nicknamed Lolek, was raised in a strict Catholic home, although his family, unlike many of that time in Poland was not anti-Semitic. In fact, Lolek's best friend as a child was a Jewish boy named Jerzy Kluger. The two remained friends in to adulthood, and Kluger "many years later would play a key role as a go-between for John Paul II and Israeli officials when the Vatican extended long-overdue diplomatic recognition to Israel." (CNN.com 1999)

Lolek had many tragedies occur in his early life that resulted in an unhappy childhood. His sister died even before Lolek was born, and he had a brother who died of Scarlet fever several years later. Lolek's mother died of heart and kidney problems in 1929 leaving him to be raised alone by his father in less than appealing conditions. Lolek and his father lived modestly in a one room apartment behind a church where his father disciplined him as if he were one of his soldiers. Although Lolek's father was very strict in his upbringing, the two seemingly had a good relationship.

During his childhood and early adult years, Lolek was involved in several accidents that would plague him throughout his life. He was twice hit by vehicles, once a car and once a truck, he dislocated his shoulder, broke his thigh, and had a precancerous tumor removed from his colon. None of this would deter him from accomplishing his goals, however.