Karol Józef Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920, in the small town of Wadowice, Poland.

He was the youngest son of Karol Wojtyla Senior (a retired military officer) and Emilia Kaczorowska.

He had an older brother, Edmund, who was a doctor. And he had had a sister, Olga, who died before he was born.

The family was simple but deeply Catholic. His mother took Karol to church daily!

But Karol's life would be marked by suffering from the beginning...

The First Losses

When Karol was only 9 years old, his mother died of heart disease.

It was devastating! Karol was crushed! His mother was everything to him!

He said later: "I did not have enough time to be aware of a mother's role."

His father alone took on the education of his children. And he did an extraordinary job!

Karol Senior was a man of deep prayer. He woke early to pray. He taught his son to love God above all!

But the tragedies continued.

When Karol was 12 years old, his brother Edmund (who was 26) died of scarlet fever.

Edmund was a doctor and contracted the disease treating patients. He died heroically saving lives!

Karol was devastated again! First his mother, now his brother!

He and his father were left alone in the world.

But these deep pains shaped Karol's heart. He learned that life is suffering - but that God is present in suffering!

The Brilliant Young Man

Despite the tragedies, Karol was a brilliant young man!

At school, he was an excellent student. He got the best grades in almost all subjects!

But he wasn't just studious - he was athletic too! He played soccer (he was a goalkeeper!), swam, skied, did canoeing!

Karol loved sports! He believed a healthy body helps a healthy soul!

He also had extraordinary talent for languages. He learned Latin, Greek, German, French, Italian, English, Spanish, and more!

But Karol's great passion was theater!

He loved to act! He participated in theatrical plays at school and in town!

Karol had extraordinary memory - he memorized entire plays! He acted with passion and conviction!

Many thought he would become a professional actor. He himself considered this career!

But God had different plans...

World War II

In 1939, Karol was 19 years old and had just entered the Jagiellonian University in Krakow to study Polish literature.

But on September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland!

World War II had begun!

The Nazis closed the university. They arrested professors. They prohibited higher education for Poles!

Hitler wanted to destroy Polish culture! He wanted to make Poles ignorant slaves!

Karol was forced to work in a quarry!

Every day, he carried heavy stones, broke rocks, worked under scorching sun and freezing cold!

It was slave labor! It was humiliating! It was dangerous!

Many died in the quarry - from exhaustion, accidents, or were killed by Nazi guards!

But Karol used this suffering to draw closer to God!

He prayed while working. He offered the suffering for Poland. He maintained human dignity even in humiliation!

The Clandestine Seminary

During these terrible years, Karol realized his true vocation: to be a priest!

But how? The Nazis had closed the seminaries! They arrested priests! They killed religious!

The solution was the clandestine seminary!

The Archbishop of Krakow, Archbishop Adam Sapieha, continued secretly training priests!

Karol entered this seminary in 1942. He was 22 years old.

He studied at night, hidden. He attended secret classes. He read forbidden books hidden in basements!

During the day, Karol continued working (now in a chemical factory) so as not to raise suspicion.

At night, he secretly studied theology and philosophy.

He slept only a few hours per night! But he was radiant with joy! He knew he was following God's will!

In 1944, the Nazis conducted a major raid in Krakow, arresting all young men.

Karol was at home. The soldiers knocked on the door!

But miraculously they didn't find him! He hid and escaped!

After this incident, the Archbishop hid Karol in the episcopal palace until the end of the war.

One More Loss

In 1941, while Karol was working in the quarry, his father died of a heart attack.

Karol was only 21 years old and was completely alone in the world!

Father, mother, brother, sister - all had departed!

He returned home and found his father dead, kneeling beside the bed, as if he were praying.

Karol stayed all night watching over the body, praying.

He said later: "I never felt so alone."

But from this deep pain was born an even greater intimacy with God! Karol realized: God was now his only family!

The War Ends

In January 1945, the Soviet army liberated Krakow from the Nazis.

The war was ending! Poland was free!

But the joy was limited - Poland came out of Nazi hands only to fall into Communist hands!

The Soviets occupied the country. They established a Communist government. The persecution of the Church would continue, but in a different way!

Still, there was hope! The seminaries could reopen! Karol could study openly!

Priestly Ordination

Karol completed his theological studies with brilliance!

He studied day and night! He read dozens of books! He made meticulous notes!

His intelligence was extraordinary! His memory phenomenal! His dedication total!

On November 1, 1946 - the Feast of All Saints! - Karol Wojtyla was ordained a priest!

He was 26 years old!

At the ceremony, he lay prostrate on the floor during the Litany of the Saints - a sign of total surrender to God!

When the Archbishop placed his hands on his head, Karol felt: he was now another Christ! (Alter Christus!)

Father Karol

Immediately after ordination, Father Karol was sent to Rome for doctoral studies!

He studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum).

His thesis topic: the doctrine of faith in St. John of the Cross!

Karol lived at the Belgian College. He prayed for hours each day. He studied intensely. He visited churches and catacombs in Rome!

He fell in love with Rome! With Church history! With the martyrs! With the Popes!

In 1948, he defended his thesis with the highest distinction! Now he was Father Dr. Karol Wojtyla!

Back in Poland, Father Karol was assigned as parochial vicar in Niegowić, a poor village.

There he learned to be a shepherd of souls! He visited the sick, taught catechism, celebrated Masses!

The peasants loved the young priest! He was humble, joyful, always available!

Later he was transferred to Krakow, to St. Florian's Parish.

And it was there that his extraordinary ministry with young people began...