Pope Saint John Paul II

Biography

Pope Saint John Paul II, also known as Karol Wojtyla, was born on 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. Growing up, Karol believed that God was calling him to the priesthood. Despite facing challenges, including surviving two near-fatal accidents, he responded to this calling and pursued his vocation. During the German occupation of Poland, Karol studied secretly and was ordained as a priest on 1 November 1946. Throughout this period, he became deeply influenced by the teachings of Saint Louis Marie Montfort and Saint John of the Cross. In 1948, he earned his Doctorate in theology at the Angelicum in Rome, Italy. From 1948 to 1951, Pope Saint John Paul II served as a parish priest in the Krakow diocese. He also studied philosophy at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and taught social ethics at the Krakow Seminary from 1952 to 1958. In 1956, he became a professor at the University of Lublin. In recognition of his dedication and leadership, Venerable Pope Pius XII appointed Karol Wojtyla as an auxiliary bishop in Krakow on 4 July 1958. Later, on 30 December 1963, Servant of God Pope Paul VI appointed him Archbishop of Krakow. As Archbishop, Wojtyla faced persecution under the Communist regime but proved himself to be a noble and trustworthy pastor. He actively participated in the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) as a member of the preparatory commission and attended all four sessions. It is believed that he played a role in writing the influential document Gaudium et spes, which focuses on the Church in the Modern World. He also contributed to the formulation of the Declaration on Religious Freedom. Following Vatican II, Pope Paul VI recognized Karol Wojtyla's dedication and appointed him Cardinal on 26 June 1967. In 1960, he published the book "Love and Responsibility," which defended the traditional Catholic teaching on marriage. Pope Paul VI relied on his counsel extensively while writing the encyclical "Humanae Vitae." In 1976, Pope Paul VI invited Archbishop Wojtyla to preach the Lenten sermons to members of the Papal Household. Then, on 16 October 1978, he made history by becoming the first non-Italian pope in over four centuries, taking the name Pope John Paul II to honor his predecessors and emphasize his commitment to continuing the reforms of Vatican II. Pope Saint John Paul II holds the record for being the most traveled pope in history. He made visits to nearly every country in the world that would receive him, consecrating each place to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Vicar of Christ. On 13 May 1983, he went to Fatima to consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, fulfilling promises made by Our Lady at Fatima. Throughout his papacy, Pope John Paul II had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1995, he began a lengthy catechesis on Mary during his weekly Angelus addresses, highlighting her active participation in the Sacrifice of Calvary and introducing the concept of the co-redemption. He became the first Pope since Pope Benedict XV to use the term "corredemptrix" in reference to Mary. Pope Saint John Paul II passed away on 2 April 2005 in Rome, Italy, of natural causes. He was interred in Saint Peter's Basilica, and a vial of his blood was enshrined as a relic in the cathedral in Manila, Philippines. His heroic virtues were recognized by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 December 2009, leading to his veneration. He was beatified on 1 May 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI, whose beatification miracle involved the cure of a man from Parkinson's disease in France. Pope Francis later canonized Pope John Paul II on 27 April 2014, with the canonization miracle being the healing of a Costa Rican woman with a brain aneurysm. Pope Saint John Paul II is revered as a patron of Polish-Ukrainian Reconciliation, World Meeting of Families 2015, and World Youth Days. His legacy as a beloved and influential Pope remains an inspiration for Catholics around the world.