Gold Twenty-fifth Ounce 2005 Pope John Paul II, Coin from Congo, Democratic Republic of the - detailed information

The Democratic Republic of the Congo normally uses banknotes for circulation, and does not issue coins in the Congolese Franc currency. However, the country has authorised some foreign mints to issue commemorative and bullion coins under its jurisdiction.

Most of them are in internationally popular sizes, including the one twenty-fifth of an ounce of gold mini-coin format - such as this coin.

This Pope John Paul II - In Memoriam coin is part of a range commemorating the life of Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II; Italian: Giovanni Paolo II; Polish: Jan Paweł II).

Born Karol Józef Wojtyła (18 May 1920 - 2 April 2005), he was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005. He was later canonised as Pope Saint John Paul II.

Cardinal Wojtyła was elected pope on the third day of the second papal conclave of 1978, which was called after John Paul I, who had been elected in the first papal conclave of 1978 earlier in August to succeed Pope Paul VI, died after 33 days. Wojtyła adopted the name of his predecessor in tribute to him.

Born in Poland, John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century and the second longest-serving pope after Pius IX in modern history.