john paul ii biography book

Rupture by Stealth?

George weigel.

To Sanctify the World: The Vital Legacy of Vatican II

Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II

Buy the Book

Biographies & memoirs.

“Fascinating…sheds light on the history of the twentieth century for everyone.”— New York Times Book Review

Now, with an updated preface, the latest edition of the definitive biography of Pope John Paul II that explores how influential he was on the world stage and in some of the most historic events of the twentieth century that can still be felt today.

Witness to Hope  is the authoritative biography of one of the singular figures—some might argue the singular figure—of our time. With unprecedented cooperation from John Paul II and the people who knew and worked with him throughout his life, George Weigel offers a groundbreaking portrait of the Pope as a man, a thinker, and a leader whose religious convictions defined a new approach to world politics—and changed the course of history. As even his critics concede, John Paul II occupied a unique place on the world stage and put down intellectual markers that no one could ignore or avoid as humanity entered a new millennium fraught with possibility and danger.

The Pope was a man of prodigious energy who played a crucial, yet insufficiently explored, role in some of the most momentous events of our time, including the collapse of European communism, the quest for peace in the Middle East, and the democratic transformation of Latin America. With an updated preface, this edition of  Witness to Hope  explains how this “man from a far country” did all of that, and much more—and what both his accomplishments and the unfinished business of his pontificate mean for the future of the Church and the world.

Books by George Weigel

• Biographies & Memoirs
• Catholicism
• Essay Compilations
• Foreign Affairs
• Literature and Literary Personalities
• Politics and Social Sciences

Email: [email protected]

Sign up here to receive The Catholic Difference and other materials from George Weigel straight to your inbox

The catholic difference, catholic & vatican affairs, international affairs, u.s. affairs, john paul ii.

Author Website Design by Rocket Expansion

• Biographies & Memoirs
• Community & Culture

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video, download Flash Player

Follow the author

Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II Paperback – March 3 2020

Purchase options and add-ons.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER

"A remarkable book. Weigel's biography is likely to remain the standard one-volume reference on John Paul II for many years to come."  —  Pittsburg Post-Gazette

? “Fascinating. . . sheds light on the history of the twentieth century for everyone.” — New York Times Book Review

The definitive biography of Pope John Paul II that explores how influential he was on the world stage and in some of the most historic events of the twentieth century that can still be felt today

Witness to Hope  is the authoritative biography of one of the singular figures—some might argue the singular figure—of our time. With unprecedented cooperation from John Paul II and the people who knew and worked with him throughout his life, George Weigel offers a groundbreaking portrait of the Pope as a man, a thinker, and a leader whose religious convictions defined a new approach to world politics—and changed the course of history. As even his critics concede, John Paul II occupied a unique place on the world stage and put down intellectual markers that no one could ignore or avoid as humanity entered a new millennium fraught with possibility and danger.

The Pope was a man of prodigious energy who played a crucial, yet insufficiently explored, role in some of the most momentous events of our time, including the collapse of European communism, the quest for peace in the Middle East, and the democratic transformation of Latin America. With an updated preface, this edition of Witness to Hope explains how this “man from a far country” did all of that, and much more—and what both his accomplishments and the unfinished business of his pontificate mean for the future of the Church and the world.

• Print length 1056 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Harper Perennial
• Publication date March 3 2020
• Dimensions 15.54 x 4.32 x 23.16 cm
• ISBN-10 0062996010
• ISBN-13 978-0062996015
• See all details

Frequently bought together

Customers who bought this item also bought

From the Publisher

At HarperCollins, authors and their work are at the center of everything we do. We are proud to provide our authors with unprecedented editorial excellence, marketing reach, long-standing connections with booksellers, and insight into reader and consumer behavior. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement, HarperCollins also uses digital technology to create unique reading experiences and expand the reach of our authors.

HarperCollins was founded by brothers James and John Harper in New York City in 1817 as J. and J. Harper, later Harper & Brothers. In 1987, as Harper & Row, it was acquired by News Corporation. The worldwide book group was formed following News Corporation's 1990 acquisition of the British publisher William Collins & Sons. Founded in 1819, William Collins & Sons published a range of Bibles, atlases, dictionaries, and reissued classics, expanding over the years to include legendary authors such as H. G. Wells, Agatha Christie, J. R. R. Tolkien, and C. S. Lewis.

The house of Mark Twain, the Brontë sisters, Thackeray, Dickens, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, and Margaret Wise Brown, HarperCollins has a long and rich history that reaches back to the early nineteenth century and offers our publishing team a depth of experience.

Product description

"A remarkable book. Weigel's biography is likely to remain the standard one-volume reference on John Paul II for many years to come." — Pittsburg Post-Gazette

"A fascinating chronicle. . . sheds light on the history of the twentieth century for everyone." — New York Times Book Review

“Magnificent. A tremendous achievement.” — Washington Post

"It is no mean feat to undertake the momentous task of chronicling the life and witness of a man whose presence has helped to change the course of history. Witness to Hope is a meticulously researched book that is certain to become a benchmark for future inquiries into the life and times of Pope John Paul II." — Los Angeles Times

"Anchored in a careful examination of the Pope's documents, Weigel helps us understand the spiritual and philosophical convictions that drive John Paul forward. This is the great contribution of Witness to Hope ." — National Catholic Reporter

"Weigel's biography is outstanding—positive but not uncritical. [It] will be the definitely work on the Pope. — Buffalo News

"A meticulous chronicle. It is Weigel's gift to be able to interleaf the spiritual and secular aspects of Wojtyla's education so seamlessly that his life in the Church takes on political overtones practically from the beginning. . . . One of the most interesting histories of our time." — Boston Globe

“An indispensable source for all those studying the consequences and impact of this pontificate.” — Il Tempo (Rome)

“The first true biography of the last giant of the century.” — L’Express (Paris)

"Like the man it reflects, the book is complex, and it's engaging. Weigel composes a multilayered story of Karol Wojtyla's life that is accessible to all." — Chicago Daily Herald

"Massive in scope and length, and written with the Pope's cooperation, Weigel's biography is sure to be the definitive work on Pope John Paul II for years to come." — Kirkus Reviews

"By far the best biography of John Paul II. . . . An indispensable reference source for future historians." — Washington Times

"Weigel's book is not only a major piece of scholarship but a cracking good story. Rarely has there been so perfect a marriage of man to job as Karol Wojtyla to the papacy. He was appointed at just the right time, and he has met his obligations superbly. The same may be said for his biographer." — National Review

“A profound analysis of all the important issues.... A marvelous work and a pleasure to read.” — ABC (Madrid)

About the Author

George Weigel is one of the world's foremost authorities on the Catholic Church and the author of the New York Times bestseller Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II . He is a Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., and a consultant on Vatican affairs for NBC News.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial (March 3 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1056 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0062996010
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062996015
• Item weight ‏ : ‎ 1.01 kg
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.54 x 4.32 x 23.16 cm
• #241 in Feminist Christian Theology
• #242 in Feminist Theology
• #484 in Christian Faith (Books)

About the author

George weigel.

George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is a Catholic theologian and one of America’s leading public intellectuals. He holds the William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, DC.

From 1989 through June 1996, Mr. Weigel was president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he led a wide-ranging, ecumenical and inter-religious program of research and publication on foreign and domestic policy issues.

Mr. Weigel is perhaps best known for his widely translated and internationally acclaimed two-volume biography of Pope St. John Paul II: the New York Times bestseller, Witness to Hope (1999), and its sequel, The End and the Beginning (2010). In 2017, Weigel published a memoir of the experiences that led to his work as a papal biographer: Lessons in Hope — My Unexpected Life with St. John Paul II.

George Weigel is the author or editor of more than thirty other books, many of which have been translated into other languages. Among the most recent are The Cube and the Cathedral: Europe, America, and Politics Without God (2005); Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the 21st-Century Church (2013); Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches (2013); Letters to a Young Catholic (2015); The Fragility of Order: Catholic Reflections on Turbulent Times (2018); The Next Pope: The Office of Peter and a Church in Mission (2020); and Not Forgotten: Elegies for, and Reminiscences of, a Diverse Cast of Characters, Most of Them Admirable (2021). His essays, op-ed columns, and reviews appear regularly in major opinion journals and newspapers across the United States. A frequent guest on television and radio, he is also Senior Vatican Analyst for NBC News. His weekly column, “The Catholic Difference,” is syndicated to eighty-five newspapers and magazines in seven countries.

Mr. Weigel received a B.A. from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore and an M.A. from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto. He is the recipient of nineteen honorary doctorates in fields including divinity, philosophy, law, and social science, and has been awarded the Papal Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, Poland’s Gloria Artis Gold Medal, and Lithuania’s Diplomacy Star.

Customer reviews

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon and Our Planet
• Modern Slavery Statement
• Investor Relations
• Press Releases
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Sell on Amazon Handmade
• Advertise Your Products
• Independently Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• Amazon.ca Rewards Mastercard
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon Cash
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns Are Easy
• Manage your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Customer Service

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Interest-Based Ads
• Amazon.com.ca ULC | 40 King Street W 47th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 3Y2 |1-877-586-3230

We’re fighting to restore access to 500,000+ books in court this week. Join us!

Internet Archive Audio

• This Just In
• Grateful Dead
• Old Time Radio
• 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings
• Audio Books & Poetry
• Computers, Technology and Science
• Music, Arts & Culture
• News & Public Affairs
• Spirituality & Religion
• Radio News Archive

• Flickr Commons
• Occupy Wall Street Flickr
• NASA Images
• Solar System Collection
• Ames Research Center

• All Software
• Old School Emulation
• MS-DOS Games
• Historical Software
• Classic PC Games
• Software Library
• Kodi Archive and Support File
• Vintage Software
• CD-ROM Software
• CD-ROM Software Library
• Software Sites
• Tucows Software Library
• Shareware CD-ROMs
• Software Capsules Compilation
• CD-ROM Images
• ZX Spectrum
• DOOM Level CD

• Smithsonian Libraries
• FEDLINK (US)
• Lincoln Collection
• American Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Universal Library
• Project Gutenberg
• Children's Library
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Books by Language
• Additional Collections

• Prelinger Archives
• Democracy Now!
• Occupy Wall Street
• TV NSA Clip Library
• Animation & Cartoons
• Arts & Music
• Computers & Technology
• Cultural & Academic Films
• Ephemeral Films
• Sports Videos
• Videogame Videos
• Youth Media

Search the history of over 866 billion web pages on the Internet.

Mobile Apps

• Wayback Machine (iOS)
• Wayback Machine (Android)

Browser Extensions

Archive-it subscription.

• Explore the Collections
• Build Collections

Save Page Now

Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future.

Please enter a valid web address

• Donate Donate icon An illustration of a heart shape

Witness to hope : the biography of Pope John Paul II

Bookreader item preview, share or embed this item, flag this item for.

• Graphic Violence
• Explicit Sexual Content
• Hate Speech
• Misinformation/Disinformation
• Marketing/Phishing/Advertising
• Misleading/Inaccurate/Missing Metadata

plus-circle Add Review comment Reviews

5 Favorites

Better World Books

DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

No suitable files to display here.

IN COLLECTIONS

Uploaded by station51.cebu on January 13, 2022

SIMILAR ITEMS (based on metadata)

• [ June 30, 2024 ] Pope Francis asks Sacred Heart of Jesus to convert hearts who want war News Briefs
• [ June 30, 2024 ] PHOTOS: A Eucharistic pilgrimage boards a ‘sternwheeler’ and travels down the Ohio River News Briefs
• [ June 30, 2024 ] Indonesian island set to become an international Catholic pilgrim destination News Briefs
• [ June 30, 2024 ] Michigan iconographer roots work in prayer when depicting the divine News Briefs
• [ June 29, 2024 ] ‘Open the doors’ of the Church, Pope Francis implores on solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul News Briefs

Ten great works about the life and thought of Pope St. John Paul II

Books by George Weigel, Andrea Riccardi, Sławomir Oder, Darcy O’Brien, and others, along with one film.

May 12, 2020 Filip Mazurczak The Dispatch 1 Print

The hundredth anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II, one of the most influential popes in Church history, will be on Monday May 18. Because of COVID-19 lockdown measures, some of us have more opportunities to read books and watch movies than usual. What better time to learn more about Karol Wojtyła’s life, thought, and legacy than now? Here is a list of the ten exceptional works about Pope St. John Paul II: nine books and one film.

• Witness to Hope (Harper Perennial, 2001) ; The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II – The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years (Image, 2010), the Legacy; Lessons in Hope: My Unexpected Life with St. John Paul II (Basic Books, 2017), by George Weigel

If you ever read about Pope John Paul II in works of history and look at the footnotes, they will likely reference Weigel’s books, especially Witness to Hope , the definitive biography of the pontiff. George Weigel spent years interviewing the pope and people who knew him in Poland, Rome, and elsewhere. Witness to Hope works well as an encyclopedia on John Paul’s life and especially his pilgrimages to different nations and their social, political, and religious context and impact.

Many of Weigel’s interlocutors have revealed rather interesting details and shared quotable remarks. For example, Cardinal Jaime Sin, the late archbishop of Manila and the informal leader of the 1986 peaceful revolution against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, tells Weigel that he was inspired by the examples of John Paul II and Solidarity. Meanwhile, Weigel quotes Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the postulator of the cause for canonization of St. Oscar Romero, who was unfairly and inaccurately accused by some of being a Marxist sympathizer, who says of the Salvadoran martyr: “This bishop is the Church’s bishop, not the Left’s bishop.”

Witness to Hope was published in early 2000, five years before John Paul II’s death. The End and the Beginning , however, is not a mere sequel. Apart from chronicling the last five years of the saint’s life (including his death, which moved millions), it also features a fine assessment of John Paul II’s role in the collapse of communism.

The most recent part of the “Weigel trilogy” is Lessons in Hope . This is Weigel’s engaging and never self-indulgent memoir of how he wrote Witness to Hope . The book contains a myriad of many great names in Catholic history Weigel had the privilege of meeting while working on the book. Chronicling Weigel’s beginnings as a journalist in the 1970s and his evolution as one of America’s leading Catholic commentators, Lessons in Hope can also be inspiring reading for aspiring young writers.

• City of Saints: A Pilgrimage to John Paul II’s Krakow (Image, 2015), by George Weigel, Carrie Gress, Stephen Weigel

Weigel also co-authored a fine book on Krakow, the city where Karol Wojtyła lived from 1938 until his election to the papacy forty years later. When the pandemic ends and international travel again becomes possible, John Paul II’s Krakow is a great place to visit, and the Weigels and Carrie Gress provides an excellent historical introduction to the place where his vocation matured. We learn about the city’s medieval history and its more recent oppression under Nazi Germany and communist rule.

Weigel introduces the reader to such Krakow saints as Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr; Jadwiga, Queen of Poland; or Albert Chmielowski. We learn about places closely linked to Wojtyła, such as Nowa Huta, the working class neighborhood centrally planned by communists, who unsuccessfully tried to create a district without God, or the quarry where he worked under German occupation, which helped him to develop his teaching on the value of human labor. Trust me; this is a much better guide to Krakow than anything from Lonely Planet or Fodor’s.

• John Paul II: The Biography (Cinisello Balsamo 2011), by Andrea Riccardi

Apart from George Weigel’s trilogy, the best biography of John Paul II I’ve read is by Andrea Riccardi, originally written in Italian, but translated into numerous European languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, and French. Unfortunately, English is not one of them. I hope that including this book in this article could interest some publisher in an English translation.

Andrea Riccardi is the founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, a lay Catholic community from Italy that is present throughout the world and is devoted to promoting peace (the community played a key role in the negotiations ended the civil war in Mozambique) and aiding the poor and refugees. He is also a professor of history and a sometime politician.

Apart from standard information about Karol Wojtyła’s youth and formation found in all other biographies, this book contains many prescient analyses of the political impact of many of St. John Paul II’s teachings, actions, and pilgrimages. Many are much less known than the familiar narrative of the 1979 visit to Poland and its role in inspiring the foundation of Solidarity, including John Paul II’s clashing with the Bush administration over the invasion of Iraq, his attitude to the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the 1990s, his attempts at mediation in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and many other fascinating stories.

One chapter is brilliantly titled “No to Communism, Not Yes to Capitalism.” In it, Riccardi deconstructs the media caricature of John Paul II as basically the Henry Kissinger of the Vatican. Yes, Riccardi writes, John Paul II knew the philosophical foundations of Marxism-Leninism and himself experienced communist rule firsthand, so he was not naïve about the anthropological lies of communism. However, he had no taste for laissez-faire capitalism, with its greedy materialism and marginalization of the poor, either.

• Why He Is a Saint: The Life and Faith of Pope John Paul II and the Case for Canonization (Rizzoli, 2010), by Sławomir Oder

With the possible exception of George Weigel, arguably no one knows more about John Paul II than Father Sławomir Oder, a Polish priest who served as the postulator for the pope’s cause for canonization. Father Oder spent hundreds of hours speaking to people who knew John Paul II and went through thousands of pages of documents related to his life.

In Why He Is a Saint , Oder shares all he learned about John Paul with his readers. The book also reveals much fascinating information for the first time, such as that during his meeting with Augusto Pinochet behind closed doors Pope St. John Paul II asked him to give democracy a chance. This inspired the Chilean dictator, who considered himself a Catholic, to hold a plebiscite on bringing back civilian rule to his country.

• The Hidden Pope: The Untold Story of a Lifelong Friendship That Changed the Relationship Between Catholics and Jews (Rodale Books, 1998), by Darcy O’Brien

Over the past two millennia, relations between Jews and Christians have often been tense and painful. Although there have been plenty of Catholic friends of the Jews in history, such as St. Augustine or Pope Gregory IX, the tragic truth is that there have been many examples of Christian persecution of Jews across the centuries.

Pope St. John Paul II, however, reminded the world that the Jews are the Christians’ elder brothers in the faith. He repeatedly condemned anti-Semitism, and he became the first pope to make an official visit to a synagogue and to establish diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel.

Darcy O’Brien’s beautiful book tells the story of the lifelong friendship between Karol Wojtyła and Jerzy Kluger, which started in their hometown of Wadowice, Poland, when they were childhood pals. Karol’s visits to Jerzy’s house, including for Seder meals and the lighting of Shabbos candles, were his first direct exposure to Judaism.

During World War II, Kluger took part in the Polish II Corps, an Allied army of Polish gulag prisoners freed by Stalin (after the Germans invaded the USSR, Stalin was desperate for manpower) that played an important role in liberating Italy. Afterwards, Kluger settled in Rome.

After his election as head of the Catholic Church, John Paul II also found himself in Rome, and the two men reignited their friendship. Kluger played a crucial behind-the-scenes role as the pope’s advisor on Jewish matters and his liaison with the Jewish community. The Hidden Pope is a touching story of the power of friendship and how building bridges with people of different faiths can change the world.

• The Thought of the Man Who Became Pope John Paul II (Eerdmans, 1997), by Rocco Buttiglione

The philosophical writing of Karol Wojtyła, a marriage of classic Thomism with twentieth-century phenomenology, is difficult. Before you get discouraged, though, pick up Buttiglione’s book, a great primer and guide on the future pope’s thinking.

Buttiglione is one of Italy’s leading contemporary philosophers, political scientists, and commentators on Catholic matters. He is also a statesman and was the victim of Christophobia and silly political correctness: in 2004, he was nominated to serve as a member of the European Commission, but the European Parliament struck down his candidacy because – oh, the horror! – he believes that marriage is the union of a man and a woman.

Rocco Buttiglione was also a personal friend of St. John Paul II and knows Polish, which allowed him direct access both to the subject of his book and to Polish-language materials that are otherwise impermeable to most other scholars outside Poland. Buttiglione introduces Love and Responsibility , Wojtyła’s philosophical meditation on the ethics of relationships between man and women; his Christian personalist book on ethics The Acting Person ; Karol Wojtyła’s contributions to the Second Vatican Council; and even his poetry. All this is presented within the context of Wojtyła’s philosophical formation and the historical background in which his vocation as a philosopher was formed.

• Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II’s “Love and Responsibility” (Servant, 2105), by Edward Sri

Of all of Karol Wojtyła’s philosophical works, arguably the one that is most practical in our everyday lives is 1960’s Love and Responsibility . While this book is considered to be relatively easy by Wojtyła standards, it’s still quite a challenging read, especially for non-philosophers like myself. The book deals with the ethical aspects of relationships between men and women and can be insightful in helping to build successful courtship and later marriages based on truly respecting the other person rather than selfishly using others as objects.

Edward Sri has done a fine job of turning a difficult philosophical work into an easy-to-read, quick (I read it in about two hours) read with practical tips on how to build better marriages, romantic relationships, and even friendships with the help of Love and Responsibility . There are chapters addressed specifically to single people and engaged couples. At the end of each chapter, there are discussion question, which makes this a perfect tool for pastors who deal with marriage preparation, marriage counseling, or young adult ministry.

• Nine Days That Changed the World (Citizens United Productions, 2010)

Much has been said about Pope St. John Paul II’s 1979 visit to his native Poland and its impact on the rise of Solidarity, the most massive movement to challenge Soviet hegemony over Eastern Europe, one year later. This whole story has been compressed into a ninety-minute documentary with a beautiful score. I have shown this film or borrowed the DVD to many people – Poles who know this story and well, and Americans who are less familiar with it; Catholics and non-Catholics; elderly people who lived under communism and youths for whom the Cold War is merely a chapter from their high school history textbooks – and without exception all were profoundly moved by it.

The cast of characters is truly impressive. The documentary features interviews with John Paul II’s associates; with Solidarity activists and the two most famous dissidents from behind the Iron Curtain, Lech Wałęsa of Poland and Vaclav Havel of Czechoslovakia; and plenty of insightful commentators like George Weigel or Marcello Pera, an Italian philosopher and politician who personally is an atheist, but has repeatedly defended Europe’s Judeo-Christian roots and the right of unborn humans to life..

If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here for more information on donating to CWR. Click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Pope St. John Paul II – Ora pro nobis.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

All comments posted at Catholic World Report are moderated. While vigorous debate is welcome and encouraged, please note that in the interest of maintaining a civilized and helpful level of discussion, comments containing obscene language or personal attacks—or those that are deemed by the editors to be needlessly combative or inflammatory—will not be published. Thank you.

© Catholic World Report

You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/

Sign up to receive a weekly email with news, analysis, and commentary from a voice you can trust!

Email Frequency

• Games & Quizzes
• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction & Top Questions

Early life and influences

Decision to join the priesthood.

• Actions as cardinal
• Election as pope
• First year of travels
• Political and cultural messages
• World religions
• Christian ecumenism
• Ecclesiastical and theological contributions
• Final years

What were St. John Paul II’s accomplishments?

• What is the difference between Christianity and Roman Catholicism?
• Who founded Roman Catholicism?
• What are the Roman Catholic sacraments?
• Why is Roman Catholicism so prominent in Latin America?

St. John Paul II

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• Jewish Virtual Library - Biography of John Paul II
• The MY HERO Project - Pope John Paul II
• Saint John Paul II - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• Saint John Paul II - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

What is St. John Paul II known for?

John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. He travelled abroad extensively in an effort to promote greater understanding between countries and religions, and he campaigned against political oppression, violence, and materialism. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981.

John Paul II’s private conversations with Polish and Soviet leaders contributed to the peaceful end of the Soviet regime in eastern Europe, and his worldwide outreach brought greater visibility to the church. He engaged in acts of interfaith reconciliation with Judaism and Islam , promulgated a new catechism (1992), and canonized nearly 500 saints .

What was St. John Paul II’s legacy?

John Paul II was the first globally oriented pope, and he increased the global prestige of the papacy. His emphasis on religious and national freedom was unprecedented. He also centralized control over Catholic educational institutions and maintained traditional church positions on gender and sexual issues.

Recent News

Trusted Britannica articles, summarized using artificial intelligence, to provide a quicker and simpler reading experience. This is a beta feature. Please verify important information in our full article.

This summary was created from our Britannica article using AI. Please verify important information in our full article.

St. John Paul II (born May 18, 1920, Wadowice, Poland—died April 2, 2005, Vatican City; beatified May 1, 2011; canonized April 27, 2014; feast day October 22) was the bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. He was the first non- Italian pope in 455 years and the first from a Slavic country . His pontificate of more than 26 years was the third longest in history. As part of his effort to promote greater understanding between nations and between religions , he undertook numerous trips abroad, traveling far greater distances than had all other popes combined , and he extended his influence beyond the church by campaigning against political oppression and criticizing the materialism of the West. He also issued several unprecedented apologies to groups that historically had been wronged by Catholics, most notably Jews and Muslims . His unabashed Polish nationalism and his emphasis on nonviolent political activism aided the Solidarity movement in communist Poland in the 1980s and ultimately contributed to the peaceful dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. More generally, John Paul used his influence among Catholics and throughout the world to advance the recognition of human dignity and to deter the use of violence . His centralized style of church governance, however, dismayed some members of the clergy, who found it autocratic and stifling. He failed to reverse an overall decline in the numbers of priests and nuns , and his traditional interpretations of church teachings on personal and sexual morality alienated some segments of the laity.

Wojtyła’s childhood coincided with the only period of freedom that Poland would know between 1772 and 1989: the two decades between Marshal Józef Piłsudski ’s defeat of the Soviet Red Army in 1920 and the German invasion in 1939. Wojtyła thus grew up experiencing national freedom but also understanding its vulnerability. Although Wadowice, a town of about 8,000 Catholics and 2,000 Jews, lay only 15 miles (24 km) from the future site of Auschwitz , a Nazi death camp , there was apparently little anti-Semitism in the town before the war. One of Wojtyła’s close boyhood friends was a son of the leader of Wadowice’s Jewish community .

Wojtyła’s father, Karol senior, was a lieutenant in the Polish army. His mother, Emilia Kaczorowska, died when he was eight years old; his brother, Edmund, who had become a physician, died less than four years later. Wojtyła was an outgoing youth, though always with a serious side. He excelled in academics and dramatics, played football (soccer), and, under his father’s guidance, lived a disciplined life of routine religious observance. He regularly assisted Father Kazimierz Figlewicz, his confessor and first teacher in Catholicism, in Wadowice’s main church, which was next door to the Wojtyła family’s tiny apartment.

After graduating from secondary school as valedictorian, Wojtyła moved with his father to Kraków , where he attended the Jagiellonian University. His studies ended abruptly when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. In the months that followed, Jews as well as non-Jewish cultural and political leaders, including professors and priests, were killed or deported to concentration camps by the Nazis , who considered the Slavs an inferior race.

Wojtyła and his father fled with thousands to the east but soon returned after learning that the Russians had also invaded Poland. Back in Kraków, Wojtyła continued his studies in clandestine classes. For the next four years, in order to avoid arrest and deportation, he worked in a factory owned by Solvay, a chemical firm that the Nazis considered essential to their war effort. Wojtyła was thus the only pope, at least in modern times, to have been a labourer.

During these years Wojtyła began to write nationalistic plays, and he joined the Rhapsodic Theatre, an underground resistance group that aimed to sustain Polish culture and morale through covert readings of poetry and drama. Through Jan Tyranowski, a tailor who conducted a youth ministry for the local church, Wojtyła was introduced to the teachings of St. John of the Cross , a Carmelite mystic who held that redemption could be gained through suffering and a “spirituality of abandonment.” Tyranowski’s example helped to convince Wojtyła that the church, even more than a renewed Polish theatre, might improve the world. Wojtyła’s confessor continued to be his childhood mentor, Figlewicz, who had transferred to Wawel Cathedral in Kraków.

In February 1941 Wojtyła returned from work one day to discover that his father had died alone; he prayed by the body all night. By the autumn of 1942 he had decided to enter the priesthood. For two years, while still working at the chemical factory, he attended illegal seminary classes run by Kraków’s cardinal archbishop, Prince Adam Sapieha . After narrowly escaping a Nazi roundup of able-bodied men and boys in 1944, Wojtyła spent the rest of the war in the archbishop’s palace, disguised as a cleric. As pope, Wojtyła recalled that witnessing Nazi horrors, including the murder of many priests, showed him the real meaning of the priesthood.

In 1945 the Soviets replaced the Germans as occupiers of Poland. In November 1946 Wojtyła was ordained by Sapieha into the Catholic priesthood. He chose to say his first mass , assisted by Figlewicz, in Wawel Cathedral’s crypt chapel amid the sarcophagi of Polish monarchs and heroes, including those who had defended national freedom and European Christendom. He then began two years of study in Rome, where he completed his first doctorate, an examination of the theology of St. John of the Cross. Assigned to Kraków’s St. Florian’s parish in 1949, he studied, wrote, and lectured on philosophy and social and sexual ethics . During the next decade he completed a second doctorate, taught theology and ethics at the Jagiellonian University, and eventually was appointed to a full professorship at the Catholic University of Lublin .

The young priest wrote poetry, published anonymously, on a variety of religious, social, and personal themes. He also became the spiritual leader and mentor of a circle of young adult friends whom he joined on kayaking and camping trips. Together, they celebrated mass in the open at a time when unapproved worship outside of churches was forbidden by the communist regime. Experiences with these friends contributed to the ideas in his first book of nonfiction, Love and Responsibility (1960), an exploration of the several graces available in conjugal sexual relationships. The work was considered radical by those who held the traditional church view that sex was solely for the purpose of procreation.

Church leaders were impressed by Wojtyła’s ability to operate a dynamic pastorate despite communist restrictions. In 1958 Pope Pius XII appointed him an auxiliary bishop of Kraków. At the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) Wojtyła so distinguished himself that halfway through the council, in December 1963, Pope Paul VI named him archbishop of Kraków.

The Second Vatican Council introduced Wojtyła to issues including the role of the laity, the church’s relations with other religions, and its relations with the secular world. After the council’s conclusion in 1965, Wojtyła was appointed to Pope Paul VI ’s Commission for the Study of Problems of the Family, Population, and Birth Rate. His work appears to have influenced Humanae vitae (1968; “Of Human Life”), Paul VI’s encyclical rejecting artificial contraception , which became one of the church’s most ignored teachings. Some bishops also disagreed with it, saying privately that, on this issue, Wojtyła may have made basic theological mistakes.

• Christian Books & Bibles
• Catholicism

Sorry, there was a problem.

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required .

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Pope John Paul II: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) Hardcover – November 30, 2003

The life of Karol Wojtyla would be remarkable even if he never became the Millennium Pope, revered by millions worldwide. From a Polish schoolboy who loved outdoor pursuits and quietly coped with family tragedy, he matured into a talented linguist, actor, and author, and experienced Nazi occupation, the Iron Curtain, and Solidarity's overthrow of Communism. His rise through the ranks of the Catholic Church was accelerated upon recognition of his gifted mind, combined with his behind-the-scenes activism and rapport with parishioners, especially youths. The reign of John Paul II has transcended the Vatican and the Catholic sphere, as he has worked to heal the rift between Catholics and Jews, and Catholics and the Eastern Orthodoxy. He has also served as an ambassador to the world, traveling relentlessly to reach out to the masses, even as he battles Parkinson's disease and old age. This balanced narrative conveys the poignancy of his family ties and his admirable character and intellect, yet it also acknowledges criticism of conservative papal positions. A bibliography of print and electronic resources and a timeline complete the volume.

• Print length 200 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Greenwood
• Publication date November 30, 2003
• Dimensions 6.14 x 0.5 x 9.21 inches
• ISBN-10 0313323003
• ISBN-13 978-0313323003
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwood (November 30, 2003)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0313323003
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0313323003
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.5 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.5 x 9.21 inches
• #4,819 in Christian Popes
• #37,823 in Religious Leader Biographies

About the author

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Get the Reddit app

A subreddit for those who enjoy learning about flags, their place in society past and present, and their design characteristics

Flag of Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

Share this Fact:

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Eastern Europe
• Moscow Oblast

Elektrostal

Elektrostal Localisation : Country Russia , Oblast Moscow Oblast . Available Information : Geographical coordinates , Population, Area, Altitude, Weather and Hotel . Nearby cities and villages : Noginsk , Pavlovsky Posad and Staraya Kupavna .

Information

Find all the information of Elektrostal or click on the section of your choice in the left menu.

• Update data

Elektrostal Demography

Information on the people and the population of Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Geography

Geographic Information regarding City of Elektrostal .

Elektrostal Distance

Distance (in kilometers) between Elektrostal and the biggest cities of Russia.

Elektrostal Map

Locate simply the city of Elektrostal through the card, map and satellite image of the city.

Elektrostal Nearby cities and villages

Elektrostal Weather

Weather forecast for the next coming days and current time of Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Sunrise and sunset

Find below the times of sunrise and sunset calculated 7 days to Elektrostal.

Elektrostal Hotel

Our team has selected for you a list of hotel in Elektrostal classified by value for money. Book your hotel room at the best price.

Elektrostal Nearby

Below is a list of activities and point of interest in Elektrostal and its surroundings.

Elektrostal Page

• Information /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#info
• Demography /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#demo
• Geography /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#geo
• Distance /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#dist1
• Map /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#map
• Nearby cities and villages /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#dist2
• Weather /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#weather
• Sunrise and sunset /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#sun
• Hotel /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#hotel
• Nearby /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#around
• Page /Russian-Federation--Moscow-Oblast--Elektrostal#page
• Terms of Use
• Copyright © 2024 DB-City - All rights reserved
• Change Ad Consent Do not sell my data