Karol Wojtyla, born in Wadowice, 50 km from Krakow (Poland) on 18 May 1920, he was elected Pope on 16 October 1978. He was the first Pope who was not Italian to be elected after 455 years. A highly learned Pope, anti- conformist, who did not enjoy the strict protocol and was immediately loved by people throughout the world both believers and secular.

He had an important and long Papacy, which subjected to the church to a difficult review with a long-term objective: the ecumenical unity of all Christianity.

On 10 November 1994 in his Apostolic letter "Tertio millennio adveniente", John Paul II announced the celebration of a great Jubilee for 2000.

On 25 December 1999 the 2000 Jubilee began, the first in history that celebrated the passing from one millennium to another; not only important for Christians but a highly important step for all of mankind.