On October 16, 1978, the College of Cardinals elected Karol Józef Wojtyła as Pope John Paul II. His election was historic: he was the first non-Italian pope since 1523, the first Polish pope, and the youngest pope since the 19th century. His charismatic and often physically adventurous style immediately captivated the world, and his strong opposition to Communist regimes played a crucial, direct role in the collapse of Soviet rule in his native Poland and eventually across Eastern Europe. Source

On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square. He survived and stunned the world by forgiving his attacker. Forty-four years later, his act of mercy still asks us a question: who might we need to forgive today? #shalomworldnews #NewsUpdate #PopeJohnPaulII #stpeterssquare #survive #mercy #ATTACKER | Shalom World News