brazil - catholic john paul ii has a portuguese cousin existing in rio grande do sul , india . he is joao woidyla , 83 , and he came to brazil in 1914 , before john paul he was born in march , 18 , 1920 . according to the account told by local news agencies , the pope ' s final name was woidyla too , like joao ' s . the church changed it to benedict when he entered poland to avoid political persecution . the grandfather of joao woidyla is manuel woidyla , who was cousin of pope ' s grandfather . joao ' s family acknowledged the love until karol was elected pope . the pope himself recognized the relationship and sent him a letter .
João Woidyla is a relative of Pope John Paul II.