A Pole, he became the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century. He became the longest serving pope of the 20th century and travelled more widely on papal missions than any other pope. His term of office saw a slowing down of reforms advocated in the wake of the Second Vatican Council (1962–65), notably on the devolution of responsibility to the priesthood and laity. He maintained the Church’s traditional opposition to the ordination of women, to artificial birth control, and to practising homosexuals. He was canonized in 2014.