Text

Karol Josef Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, was elected Pope on the eighth ballot 16 October 1978, following the death of John Paul I. Cardinal Wojtyla took the name John Paul II in honor of his two predecessors. His pontificate is the second longest in history (after Pius IX). He was the first Polish born pope and the first non-Italian in 455 years (since Pope Adrian VI in 1523). Pope John Paul II was a native of Wadowice, Poland, born in 1920. During the wartime Nazi occupation of Poland, he worked in a limestone quarry and chemical factory and at times was forced into hiding to survive. His father and only surviving relative died in 1941. War interrupted his theological studies, which were resumed after Poland's liberation. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958, and later Archbishop in 1964. Pope John Paul II is recalled as an important world statesman of the late 20th century. He guided Polish leaders in the struggle for freedom that triggered to the collapse of Soviet controlled regimes in Eastern Europe. He visited 129 countries during his pontificate, visits that attracted millions of people. He visited Poland nine times. John Paul II worked to restore good relationships with Eastern Christians, remarking that the Church must learn to breathe with two lungs, Latin and Greek. He also strove to develop positive relationships with Jews and with Christian denominations such as Anglicans, as well as with Islam. John Paul II beatified 1,423 persons and canonized 483 saints, more than all of his predecessors combined. He strongly defended family life and moral values. John Paul initiated World Youth Days that have continued under his successors. Pope John Paul II died on 2 April 2005. He was canonized 27 April 2014. St. John Paul II's feast day is celebrated on 22 October. 
<center><img height='250' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1560.jpg'>
<img height='250' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/1561.jpg'>
</center> 
 The John Paul II is depicted on a miniature sheet of six €0,85 stamps, which contain a photo of the statute of Jesus Christ holding a cross which is located on the attic on top of the façade of St. Peter's Basilica. A whopping 1,500,000 €0,85 stamps were printed. John Paul II is featured on two other miniature sheets (or leaflets), in an identical design, with single €1,90 and €2,50 stamps. 200,000 of each leaflet were printed. These three issues were joint issues with Poland. The stamps were designed by Jacek Dabrowski and Marzanna Dabrowska; the engraver was Piotr Naszarkowski. A stamp and coin card were also issued to commemorate his canonization. It contains a €0,85 stamp and a coin depicting Pope Francis. The total cost of the stamp and coin card was €4,50. The UFN also released a folder commemorating John Paul II's canonization, which contains the two John Paul leaflets and the miniature sheet.

Update A Postal Database Record