St. John Paul II – born Karol Józef Wojtyła, a saint of the Catholic Church. The first non‑Italian Popesince 1523. He served in Vatican for 26 years (1978 to 2005), which makes it the longest pontificate in the 20th century and the third‑longest in the history of the Church. Very frequently called Saint John Paul the Great, he was one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century as he played a significant role in shaping the history of Europe in the 80s and 90s. Pope John Paul II was known for his great affinity towards the devotion of Divine Mercy, which Jesus revealed to St. Faustina Kowalska. John Paul II, as a supporter of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, contributed considerably to the improvement of relations of the Catholic Church’s with Islam, Judaism, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. During his pontificate, John Paul II beatified and canonised a great number of people as part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness. John Paul II is also the person behind the idea of organizing World Youth Days and, together with Saint Teresa of Calcutta, a patron of the event.

To learn more about the patron of our university, watch the film below - "John Paul II: Global Ambassador of Humanism". The film presents JP2 from a different perspective - a prominent thinker and philosopher as well as a great father figure for the youth.