Birth of John Paul II
Birth of John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla
Role range: 1978-2005
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
John Paul II Biography and Timeline
Follow John Paul II through 32 dated historical records for Poland.
John Paul II, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
32Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1920–2005Years on this page
1920
1938
Education
Graduates from secondary school
Role range: 1978-2005
1946
Ordination
John Paul II is ordained
Role range: 1978-2005
1949
Assistant Pastor
Appointed Assistant Pastor
Role range: 1978-2005
1956
Bishop
Appointed Auxiliarty Bishop
Role range: 1978-2005
Chairman
Appointed Chair of Ethics at the Catholic University
Role range: 1978-2005
1962
Archbishop
Appointed Acting Archbishop
Role range: 1978-2005
1967
Cardinal
Appointed Cardinal
1969
The Acting Person
Publication of "The Acting Person"
Role range: 1978-2005
1978
Death of John Paul II
Death of John Paul I
Role range: 1978-2005
Election
Elected by the College of Cardinals, in the Eighth round
Role range: 1978-2005
Inauguration
Inaugurated Pope
Role range: 1978-2005
Pope
Appointed Pope, the 1st non-Italian pontiff since 1523. Appointed Pope, at 58 the youngest Pope in 132 yrs
Role range: 1978-2005
Independence of Poland
John Paul II returns to Poland for 9 days, his reception helps end Russian rule
Role range: 1978-2005
John Paul II returns to Poland for 9 days, his reception helps
John Paul II returns to Poland for 9 days, his reception helps end Russian rule
Role range: 1978-2005
1981
Meeting with Lech Walesa at the Vatican
John Paul II meets Lech Walesa at the Vatican
Role range: 1978-2005
KGB (Committee for State Security)
Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB
Role range: 1978-2005
Plot
Shot in the Vatican Sqr by a Turk, Mehmet Ali Agca. Mehmet Ali Agca claims he was working for the KGB
Role range: 1978-2005
Plot
John Paul II visits Mehmet Ali Agca & forgives him
Role range: 1978-2005
1982
Meeting with Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth
President Reagan meets Pope John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth
Role range: 1978-2005
1986
Meeting
Excited crowds of around 100,000 people greet the Pope as he arrives in the city from New Delhi where he spent the first two days of his tour of India.
Role range: 1978-2005
Meeting
The Pope delivers a short sermon saying: "Nirmil Hriday is a place of hope, a house built on courage and faith, a home where love reigns, a home filled with love".
Role range: 1978-2005
Meeting
The Pope meets Mother Teresa, head of the Missionaries of Charities order, in Calcutta & visits her refuge for the sick & dying.
Role range: 1978-2005
Nirmil Hriday
The Pope delivers a short sermon saying: "Nirmil Hriday is a place of hope, a house built on courage and faith, a home where love reigns, a home filled with love"
Role range: 1978-2005
Tour of India
Excited crowds of around 100,000 people greet the Pope as he arrives in the city from New Delhi where he spent the first two days of his tour of India
Role range: 1978-2005
1994
Award
Awarded Man-of-the-Year by Time Magazine
Role range: 1978-2005
Crossing the Threshold of Hope
Publication of "Crossing the Threshold of Hope"
Role range: 1978-2005
1997
John Paul II returns to Poland
John Paul II returns to Poland
Role range: 1978-2005
1998
Visit to Cuba
John Paul II visits Cuba
Role range: 1978-2005
1999
Celebrates mass in front of millions in the USA
Celebrates mass in front of millions in the USA. Celebrates mass in front of millions in Mexico
Role range: 1978-2005
2001
Health of John Paul II
Doctors publicly acknowledge John Paul II has Parkinsons disease
Role range: 1978-2005
2005
Death of John Paul II
Death of John Paul II
Role range: 1978-2005
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.