The third and final installment of our series on one of the greatest popes in history.

He was the first non-Italian pope in almost 500 years and the youngest in over a century, having been elected at the young papal age of 58. He also would have the third-longest reign in history, serving as pope for almost 27 years, and trailing only Pope Pius IX and St. Peter himself in terms of longevity. He’s one of the most traveled world leaders in history and the most visible, after logging over 680,000 miles as pope and being seen in-person by half a billion people.

This is the story spanning Pope St. John Paul II's monumental papacy, from his election in 1978 to his death in 2005.

SPECIAL THANKS to our friends at Catholic Balm Co. for sponsoring this episode of The Popecast. Check out their beard balms, lotion bars, and ESPECIALLY their brand new Petra Solid Cologne at [catholicbalm.co](catholicbalm.co).

Be sure to enter "POPE" at checkout to get 10% off your entire order!

OTHER POPECAST LINKS

Support The Popecast: A History of the Papacy