On This Day

John Paul II

John Paul II's Historical Timeline

  1. Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected Pope John Paul II

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  2. Pope John Paul II begins a 5-day visit to West Germany

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  3. Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  4. Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa meets Pope John Paul II during papal visit to Poland

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  5. Pope John Paul II names three new Dutch bishops

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  6. Dalai Lama meets Pope John Paul II in India

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  7. Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque González, Juan del Castillo, Alonso Rodríguez y Olmedo, three Jesuit missionaries murd

    Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque González, Juan del Castillo, Alonso Rodríguez y Olmedo, three Jesuit missionaries murdered in Brazil in 1628

  8. Pope John Paul II's encyclical on Centesimus annus

    Centesimus annus (Latin for "the hundredth year") is an encyclical which was written by Pope John Paul II in 1991 on the hundredth anniversary of Rerum novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII...

  9. Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor tears up a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live" [1]

    On October 3, 1992, the Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor appeared as the musical guest on the American live television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

  10. Pope John Paul II arrives on his second visit to the Philippines on trip to South East Asia

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  11. Pope John Paul II personally opens the Holy Doors of St. John Lateran in Rome to mark the Jubilee

    Pope John Paul II personally opens the Holy Doors of St. John Lateran in Rome to mark the Jubilee

  12. Pope John Paul II canonizes Polish nun Sister Faustina [Helena Kowalska] as a Catholic saint

    Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM was a Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic.

  13. Pope John Paul II canonizes Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá as a Catholic saint

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

  14. U.S. debut of the first part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

    U.S. debut of the first part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

  15. U.S. debut of the second part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

    U.S. debut of the second part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

  16. John Paul II dies

    John Paul II dies

  17. Pope John Paul II is beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI

    Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Associated Historical Events

Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope John Paul II begins a 5-day visit to West Germany

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa meets Pope John Paul II during papal visit to Poland

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope John Paul II names three new Dutch bishops

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Dalai Lama meets Pope John Paul II in India

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque González, Juan del Castillo, Alonso Rodríguez y Olmedo, three Jesuit missionaries murd

Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque González, Juan del Castillo, Alonso Rodríguez y Olmedo, three Jesuit missionaries murdered in Brazil in 1628

Pope John Paul II's encyclical on Centesimus annus

Centesimus annus (Latin for "the hundredth year") is an encyclical which was written by Pope John Paul II in 1991 on the hundredth anniversary of Rerum novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII...

Irish pop singer Sinéad O'Connor tears up a picture of Pope John Paul II on "Saturday Night Live" [1]

On October 3, 1992, the Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor appeared as the musical guest on the American live television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Pope John Paul II arrives on his second visit to the Philippines on trip to South East Asia

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Pope John Paul II personally opens the Holy Doors of St. John Lateran in Rome to mark the Jubilee

Pope John Paul II personally opens the Holy Doors of St. John Lateran in Rome to mark the Jubilee

Pope John Paul II canonizes Polish nun Sister Faustina [Helena Kowalska] as a Catholic saint

Maria Faustyna Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament, OLM was a Polish Catholic religious sister and mystic.

Pope John Paul II canonizes Opus Dei founder Josemaría Escrivá as a Catholic saint

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

U.S. debut of the first part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

U.S. debut of the first part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

U.S. debut of the second part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

U.S. debut of the second part of two-part TV biopic miniseries "Pope John Paul II" on CBS

death

John Paul II dies

John Paul II dies

Pope John Paul II is beatified by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI

Pope John Paul II was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death in 2005.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was John Paul II born?
John Paul II was born on 1920-04-02.
What historical events involved John Paul II?
John Paul II was involved in 17 recorded historical events, including Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected Pope John Paul II, Pope John Paul II begins a 5-day visit to West Germany, Pope John Paul II is shot and critically wounded by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca in St Peter's Square, Vatican City.
When did John Paul II die?
John Paul II died on 2005-01-01.

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