The personal losses seem to have emboldened Lolek in his studies and cultivated in him a passion for poetry, religion and theatre.

Wojtyla was soon forced to start work as a stonecutter in the Zakrzowek quarry at Krakow in order to escape deportation and imprisonment. During this time, he met Jan Tryanowski.

Tryanowski was a man of profound spirituality and a follower of the Carmelite school of thought. He influenced the young Wojtyla and introduced him to the writings of John of the Cross and Teresa d'Avila, two mystic saints.

October 1942 saw Wojtyla clandestinely begin studies for priesthood in Krakow's underground seminary. More openly, he also registered in the Faculty of Theology at Jagiellonian University, and transferred from the stone quarry to the Solvay chemical plant.

Pope John Paul II being supported by his aides moments after the assassination attempt by a Turkish terrorist in St Peter's Square, Rome.

Photographs: Keystone/Getty Images

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