Premise: Brazil - Pope John Paul II has a Brazilian cousin living in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He is João Woidyla, 83, and he came to Brazil in 1914, before John Paul II was born in March, 18, 1920. According to the story told by local news agencies, the Pope's last name was Woidyla too, like João's. The Pope changed it to Wojtyla when he left Poland to avoid political persecution. The grandfather of João Woidyla is José Woidyla, who was brother of Pope's grandfather. João's family discovered the relationship when Karol was elected Pope. The pope himself recognized the relationship and sent him a letter.
Hypothesis: the pope left Poland to escape persecution