Saint Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyła on 18 May 1920 in the Polish town of Wadowice. Over the course of his life, he became an unquestionable spiritual leader who inspired generations of believers. Throughout his priesthood and papacy, he made monumental gestures towards different faiths as the head of the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s 26-years-long pontificate was marked by his greatly influential work on building peace, interfaith and ecumenical dialogue and the reconciliation between science and religion. John Paul II was also committed to supporting the elderly and the vulnerable both through personal contacts and through advocacy. This broadly understood dialogue determined the nature of the Pope’s leadership and shaped the collective image of him among generations.