Pope John Paul II has made a lasting impression not only on those belonging to the Catholic faith but also to people of differing religious backgrounds. An unlikely candidate for the papacy, Karol Wojtyla ascended St. Peter's throne as the first non-Italian pope in 450 years. A harbinger of modernity and religious reform, Pope John Paul II revolutionized the Church during his reign--one of the longest in papal history. This book features an exploration of Pope John Paul II's pontificate as well as a brief history of the papacy.