Election of Pope John Paul II

Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II (Entrance to the Vatican Museums)

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On October 16th 1978, the polish cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected pope, taking the name John Paul II, in honour of his short-lived predecessor John Paul I. It was the first time in more than 450 years that a non-Italian had been elected pope. 

John Paul II was pope for almost twenty-seven years and his coat of arms, which takes the form of a simple cross and the letter 'M', can still be seen throughout Rome. 

The form of the cross does not correspond to any of the usual heraldry models. The reason for the unusual shift to the left of the vertical part of the cross is to accommodate the large and majestic capital letter 'M' in the lower right corner. The letter 'M' represents the presence of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion of Christ. The gospel of St John states: 'Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother' (19:25, KJV). 

The pope's intense devotion to the Virgin Mary is duly manifested in his coat of arms as well as his motto: 'Totus Tuus' ('Totally Yours'). 
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• Related post: Papal Coats of Arms. 

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Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II (St Peter's Basilica)