English
From Rome
He spread Christ’s love throughout the world
“Everyone’s Pope”, press headline the day after John Paul II’s death.
“We are united this evening,” said the Pope on April 2, 2009, “by his memory, that lives on in the hearts of the people, as is demonstrated by the uninterrupted pilgrimage of the faithful to his tomb in the Vatican Grottos.
I therefore preside at this Holy Mass with emotion and joy. … John Paul II, from his youth, showed himself to be a daring and ardent champion of Christ: He did not hesitate to expend all his energy in order to spread Christ’s light everywhere, he never stooped to compromises when it was a matter of proclaiming and defending his Truth; he never tired of radiating his love. From the beginning of his Pontificate until 2 April 2005, John Paul II was never afraid to proclaim, to everyone and always, that Jesus alone is the Saviour and true Liberator of humankind and of the whole human being.”
Pope John Paul II died on April 2, 2005, at 21.37, on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Between that evening and April 8, the day of his funeral, over three million people came to pay homage to the dead Pope, some even queuing for 24 hours to get into St Peter’s Basilica.
On April 28, the Holy Father Benedict XVI announced a dispensation from the statutory five years after the person’s death, so that John Paul II’s cause of beatification and canonization could begin straight away. It was initiated in Rome on June 28, 2005.
Notes on his life
Karol Józef Wojtyła, known as John Paul II ever since his election to the papacy in October 1978, was born in Wadowice, a town 50 km from Kraków, Poland, on May 18, 1920. He was the youngest of the three children of Karol Wojtyła and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His elder brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932, and his father, an Army officer, in 1941. His sister Olga had died before he was born. (Read biography)
Aerial view of St Peter’s Square the day of St Josemaria’s canonization, 6.10.2002.
Successor of Peter
The Cardinals in conclave in the Sixtine Chapel elected him Pope on October 16, 1978. He took the name John Paul II. October 22 saw the solemn inauguration of his ministry as the 263rd successor of St Peter the Apostle. His pontificate lasted almost 27 years, one of the longest in history.
Pope John Paul II met more of the members of the Church, and leaders of different countries, than any of his predecessors. Over 17,600,000 pilgrims attended his 1,166 general Wednesday audiences. That figure does not include special audiences and religious ceremonies, and the millions of faithful whom the Pope met during his pastoral visits in Italy and the rest of the world. Plus the many government figures he met personally during his 38 state visits, his 738 audiences or meetings with Heads of State, and his 246 audiences or meetings with Prime Ministers.
Very young at heart
His great love for young people inspired him to start the World Youth Days in 1985. In the nineteen WYDs celebrated during his pontificate, millions of young people gathered from around the world. And his concern for families was shown in the annual World Meeting of Families inaugurated by him in 1994.
The Prelate of Opus Dei greets the Holy Father John Paul II after St Josemaria’s canonization.
John Paul II canonized St Josemaria on October 6, 2002. The beatification had taken place on May 17, 1992.
Words of the Holy Father John Paul II in the audience on the day after St Josemaria’s canonization in Rome.
Opus Dei was set up as a personal prelature on November 28, 1982, by John Paul II.
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