Saint John Paul II
Feast day: October 22
Saint John Paul II, the Pope of young people: “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!” (22/10)
Who is he?
Saint John Paul II was Pope from 1978 to 2005. He was Polish, the first Pope in more than 450 years who was not Italian. He is called “the Pope of young people,” and he is the one who canonized the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs.
Life story
His name was Karol Wojtyła, and he was born on 18 May 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. His friends called him Lolek. He loved soccer, swimming, mountain climbing and acting. But he suffered many losses early on: his mother died before he turned nine, and then his brother and his father died too, one after the other.
During World War II, Poland was occupied. Karol had to work as a laborer in a stone quarry and a factory. He felt God calling him, so he studied for the priesthood in a secret seminary. In 1946, he was ordained a priest; later he became a bishop, and then Archbishop of Kraków.
On 16 October 1978, he was elected Pope and chose the name John Paul II. At the Mass that began his time as Pope, he said to the whole world: “Be not afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!”
He visited more than 120 countries to meet people. He started World Youth Day, where millions of young people pray together with the Pope. On 13 May 1981, he was shot and badly wounded right in Saint Peter’s Square. In 1983, he went to the prison to visit the man who had shot him, and forgave him. On 19 June 1988, he canonized the 117 Vietnamese Martyrs. In 2002, he proposed adding the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary.
In his last years, he was very ill and found it hard to walk and speak, but he kept on serving patiently to the end. He died on 2 April 2005 and was canonized by Pope Francis on 27 April 2014.
Why is he a saint?
Saint John Paul II loved Jesus and Mary with all his heart. He bravely bore witness to God in difficult times, forgave the man who hurt him, and bore his illness with trust in God. He taught everyone that every human person is precious in God’s eyes.
A lesson for you
- When you feel shy about showing that you are Catholic, remember his words: “Be not afraid!”
- When someone hurts you, pray and practice forgiving that person.
- Pray the Rosary, and remember to thank God for the Vietnamese Martyrs.
Identifying marks
- A shepherd’s staff topped with a crucifix: the staff he always carried as he traveled the world, a reminder that a shepherd must lead everyone to Jesus.
- A Rosary: he loved Mary very much and added the Luminous Mysteries to the Rosary.
- A white cassock, a small white cap and a gold cross on his chest: the clothes of the Pope.
- A hand raised in blessing: he visited and blessed peoples on every continent.
- Saint Peter’s Square: where he met crowds of pilgrims, and also where someone tried to assassinate him in 1981.
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