I am looking for materials about Pope John Paul II which I intend to share to my Grade 6 pupils. I started by checking on the biography of the Pope which I think is very essential, but somehow I saw some discrepancies about some information. One site said that he is the 265th Pope from the list of Popes but another one mentioned he is the 263rd. Please help on this matter.

-- Felix G. Del Rosario, jR. (felixx38@yahoo.com), June 20, 2000

Answers

God bless you, Felix, in your teaching apostolate, and may he reward you forever for your sacrifices.

I have the answer to your question. The following is taken directly from the Vatican's Internet site:
"Oct. 16, 1978 -- Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected 2630 Successor of Peter at approximately 5:15 p.m."

You and your students may want to make even more use of the site (www.vatican.va), especially the pages that contain a biographical sketch of the Holy Father, with links to his major works:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/biography/index.htm
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), June 20, 2000.