Blessed Pope John Paul II (1920-2005), born
Karol Jozef Wojtyla, was beatified on May 1, 2011. He reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005, at the age of 84. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century, and known for his humanitarian and peace-keeping efforts worldwide. His books include
Crossing The Threshold of Hope,
Love And Responsibility, and
Gift and Mystery.