Pope John II, also known as Pope John Paul II, was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and played a significant role in improving relations between the Catholic Church and other religions. His papacy was marked by extensive travel and outreach, visiting over 120 countries. Born as Karol Wojtyła in Poland in 1920, he became a priest in 1946 and was later appointed as the Archbishop of Kraków. He was known for his strong stance against communism, particularly in Eastern Europe, and is credited with influencing the fall of communism in Poland and beyond.