On January 24, Pope Benedict lifted the excommunication of British-born Richard Williamson and three other bishops to try to heal a 20-year-old rift that began when they were thrown out of the Church for being ordained without the permission of Pope John Paul II.

VOA: standard.2009.03.12

Among other reasons, they focused on the role of the charismatic Pope John II.

FORBES: Beijing Takes On the Vatican

In 1660, John II Casimir of Poland abandoned his claim to Sweden and signed the Treaty of Oliva, ending the Polish-Swedish War of Succession.

CNN: Saturday,

At a time when Portugal was a great seafaring nation Columbus worked as common seaman on a merchant ship and as a chart-maker before entering the service of King John II of Portugal.

BBC: News | World | Columbus tops millennium poll