Topic summary
Beatification of Pope John Paul II
Early life and church career
Papacy
Teachings and writings
Church governance
Political views and activity
Ecumenism and interfaith relations
Assassination attempts and health
Death, canonization, and legacy
Pope John Paul II reigned as pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State for 26 years from October 1978 to his death, on 2 April 2005. Since his death, many thousands of people supported the case for beatifying and canonising Pope John Paul II as a saint. His formal beatification ceremony took place on 1 May 2011.