Devoted Catholics and admirers crowded into St. Peter's square at the center of Vatican City in Rome today in support of Pope John Paul II who died Saturday at age 84. The pope's death marks the end of one of the church's most popular and beloved figures, whose 26-year-rule was the third longest in papal history.
Trace the path of Karol Wojtyla from Poland to the papacy by clicking the button to launch our interactive timeline. In it, you'll find out about some of the biggest events in the life of the pontiff, including how he went from a soccer-playing, theater-loving student to the earthly head of the Roman Catholic church.
Some facts may surprise you. Did you know that many of his closest friends at school were Jewish? That he spoke eight languages fluently? And that he survived an assassination attempt? Find out more. Just click the button above.
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