Pope John PaulPope Saint John Paul II (1920-2005) served as the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church from 1978 until his death in 2005. Universally acknowledged as one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, he worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel. In addition to fourteen papal encyclicals, his writings include A Sign of Contradiction, Love and Responsibility, and Crossing the Threshold of Hope. Read More Read Less