Saint John Paul II
the pope who came from Poland
Who was Saint John Paul II?
- Karol Wojtyła was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- He was elected pope, successor of Peter, on October 16, 1978. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II; Catechism 882
- He made 104 trips around the world and created World Youth Day. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Also called
- Karol Józef Wojtyła vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II · Cardinal Wojtyła vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- From
- Wadowice, Poland vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Occupation
- Priest, Archbishop of Kraków and pope vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Feast day
- October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope
The path of Saint John Paul II
- Before Jesus. Before he turned 21, his mother, his older brother and his father had all died. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Before Jesus. During the war his university was closed. He worked in a quarry and then in a chemical factory. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Before Jesus. From 1942 he studied in a clandestine seminary. He was ordained a priest on November 1, 1946. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Before Jesus. In 1964 he was named Archbishop of Kraków. He took part in the Second Vatican Council. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- With Jesus. On October 16, 1978, he was elected pope. On October 22 he said: “Be not afraid!” vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II; John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 5
- With Jesus. On May 13, 1981, he was gravely wounded in an attack in Saint Peter’s Square. Afterward he forgave the man who shot him. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- With Jesus. He died on April 2, 2005, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, the feast he established. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Afterward. Benedict XVI beatified him in 2011, and Pope Francis proclaimed him a saint in 2014. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
Words of Saint John Paul II
“Be not afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power!” John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 5
At the start of his ministry as pope, in Saint Peter’s Square.
“Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!” John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 5
In the same homily.
“O Christ! Make me become and remain the servant of your unique power!” John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 4
In the same homily, as a prayer.
“Be deep friends of Jesus, and bring to your family, your school and your neighborhood the example of your Christian life, clear and joyful.” John Paul II, homily of December 3, 1978, no. 4
To children and young people, on his first visit to a parish in Rome.
“I am personally grateful to this courageous woman, whom I have always felt beside me.” John Paul II, homily of October 19, 2003, no. 1
At the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
What they were like
- As a young man he helped start a clandestine theater, the “Rhapsodic Theater.” vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- He was a professor of moral theology and ethics. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- Benedict XVI remembers him on his knees, with the rosary in his hands. Benedict XVI, Angelus of October 1, 2006
The greatest thing they did
- No pope had ever met as many people as he did. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- He proclaimed 482 saints and 1,338 blesseds. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
- He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992. John Paul II, apostolic constitution Fidei Depositum (October 11, 1992)
Not to be confused with
- He was the pope before him. John Paul II remembered him in his first homily as pope. John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 4
- He was the pope who called the Second Vatican Council. The two were canonized on the same day in 2014. Pope Francis, homily of April 27, 2014
In the Church today
Feast day: October 22, Saint John Paul II, Pope (optional memorial). Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship, May 29, 2014 (General Roman Calendar)
In art, recognized by: The pope’s white cassock and the rosary in his hands Benedict XVI, Angelus of October 1, 2006
What people ask
What was his name before he became pope?
Karol Józef Wojtyła. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
What did he mean by “Be not afraid!”?
He asked people not to be afraid to welcome Christ and to open the doors wide to him. John Paul II, homily of October 22, 1978, no. 5
Did he forgive the man who tried to kill him?
Yes. His biography says that after a long recovery, he forgave the man who attacked him. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II
Why is he called “the Pope of the family”?
Pope Francis called him that when he canonized him. He said John Paul II would have liked to be remembered that way. Pope Francis, homily of April 27, 2014
What does he have to do with the Catechism?
He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church on October 11, 1992. John Paul II, apostolic constitution Fidei Depositum (October 11, 1992)
His sorrow Before he was 21, he had lost his mother, his brother and his father. vatican.va, biography of Saint John Paul II The 1981 attack forced him into a…
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See the mapWho Saint John Paul II is connected to
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta · beatified her
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux · made her a Doctor of the Church
- Peter · his successor
- Mary · apostle of the Rosary
- Jesus · “Open wide the doors for Christ”
More people
All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible