Pope John Paul II was the Pope before Pope Benedict XVI. Pope John Paul II born Karol Józef Wojtyła was Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978...
Pope John Paul II served as pope of the Catholic Church from October 22nd 1978 to his death on April 2nd 2005. He preceded pope Benedict XVI, who was elected on April 19th 2005.