Karol Wojtyla elected Pope

1978 - Roman Catholic cardinals stunned the world by electing a 58-year-old Pole, Karol Wojtyla, as successor to Pope John Paul I. The new Pope, who took the name of John Paul II, is the first nonItalian to be elected supreme Pontiff since 1522 and the first Pole ever to picked. News of his election was greeted with disbelief, amazement and joy in Poland and analysts said the election would give a big boost to the church in eastern Europe.