>> the cardinals saw the death of john paul i as a message from god that maybe they needed to think in a little bit more of an unconventional way. why elect a non-italian sclauvic pope and make this change with the past? >> that election brings forth carol woej tee la who comes to be john paul ii. >> they didn't know what they were going to get. >> in october 1978, after a conclave lasting only two days, 58-year-old karol wojtyla takes the name john paul ii to honor his predecessor. >> he was young. he was vigorous, boundless energy, and his tremendous sense of having survived two totalitarian regimes. >> john paul ii was a larger than life person.