John Paul II was a POPE and a POLE. He was born Karol Józef Wojtyła in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was elected POPE on October 16, 1978, becoming the first non-Italian POPE in 455 years. He served as POPE until his death on April 2, 2005. He is remembered for his conservative views on social issues, his efforts to improve relations between the Catholic Church and other religions, and his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.