Returning to Poland, he served as assistant Pastor to Niegowic near Gdow. During this period Wojtyla also earned a doctorate in sacred theology from the Jagiellonian University.

The Catholic University of Lublin recognised Wojtyla's outstanding academic performance by appointing him to the chair of ethics from December 1, 1956.

Two years later he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow. January 1960 saw the first edition of Wojtyla's Love and responsibility. Soon after, the Academy of Sciences (Towazystwo Naukowe) of the Catholic University of Lubin) published his dissertation "Evaluation of the Possibility of Constructing a Christian Ethic based on the System of Max Scheler."

Wojtyla has been climbing ladders of prominence. In 1962, he was named Vicar Capitular. In 1964 he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow.

He soon became the president of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity. Archbishop Wojtyla was among the new Cardinals elects Pope Paul VI announced in 1967.

The Pope reads from a book held up by a choirboy in Westminster Cathedral, during a visit to England on May 28, 1982.

Photographs: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

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