when was john paul ii pope

Pope John Paul II was pope from October 16, 1978, until his death on April 2, 2005. He was elected as the 264th pope of the Catholic Church on October 16, 1978, and his papacy lasted over 26 years. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years and the first-ever Slavic pope. He died in Vatican City on April 2, 2005.