Forty years ago Archbishop of Kraków Karol Wojtyła became Pope John Paul II

Forty years ago, on the 16th of October, the Archbishop of Kraków Karol Wojtyła became Pope John Paul II. Born in Poland, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since the Dutch Pope Adrian VI, who served from 1522 to 1523. He was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. John Paul II has been credited with being instrumental in bringing down Communism in Central and Eastern Europe.