FROM THE PUBLISHER

Karol Wojtyla's extraordinary life was influenced by the events of the twentieth century, and, as Pope John Paul II, he influenced events in turn. Born in southern Poland, Karol entered seminary under Nazi occupation, served as a cleric under Communist domination, and rose int he Church to the rank of Cardinal. In 1978, he emerged as John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in more than four centuries. John Paul II has traveled more miles than all previous popes combined and has brought the worldwide population of Roman Catholics to a billion strong. This is a beautiful tribute to arguably the most important pope of the millennium and a legend in his own time.