The Church dates back to the 13th century.The church was rebuilt several times in the XV, XVI, XVII and XIX cent. mainly due to disastrous fires (in 1462, 1476, 1655, 1850). During WWII and the German occupation of Poland and Krakow the Wawel Cathedral was closed, and so the Franciscan Church served as the Krakow’s bishop’s temple, mainly because it was and still is located right next to the Bishop’s Palace. The church was was one of the favourite prayer sites of the bishop, archbishop and cardinal Karol Wojtyla (later known as Pope John Paul II.) When he served in Krakow, he lived next to the church, just across Franciszkanska street. As Pope, John Paul II visited the basilica twice, in 1979 and 1991