pope john paul 2nd [1920-2005]

pope john paul 2nd, a man of integrity and prayer, died peacefully in vatican, rome at age 84. karol jozef wojtyla, born in wadowice, poland, on may 18, 1920, son of a retired army officer and a school teacher. he studied literature and philosophy and later was a playwright and poet.

he became pope in october 1978 after eighth rounds of balloting late in the afternoon of october 16, when the cardinals were unable to agree on a candidate after seven rounds of balloting.

the man who end the cold war, the man who bring down the soviet empire, time magazine's man of the year in 1994, a hero for the ages, one of history's great leaders, an advocate of peace and the most beloved man in history.

farewell pope john paul the 2nd, you will always be remembered.
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click here to view cnn's special feature on pope john paul the 2nd.