Karol Wojtyła was born on 18 July 1879, in Lipnik,[1] the son of Polish tailor Maciej Wojtyła (1 February 1852 in Czaniec – 23 September 1923 in Wadowice[2]) and his first wife Anna Marianna Przeczek (1853–1881, born and died in Lipnik).

They had three children: Edmund Wojtyła (1906–1932), Olga Maria (died soon after birth on 7 July 1916),[3][4] Karol Józef (1920–2005).

After Poland regained its independence, he was admitted to the Polish Army and was an officer of the 12th Infantry Regiment from Wadowice.

[11] In 1934, as a retired lieutenant, he remained in the records of the Poviat Supplementary Command Wadowice.

[16] Alfred Burke played him in the film Pope John Paul II.

[19] On 11 March 2020, Marek Jędraszewski, Archbishop of Kraków, announced the beginning of the process of beatification of Karol and Emilia Wojtyła;[20] The process of beatification of John Paul II's parents began officially on 7 May 2020 in Wadowice.