Pope St. John Paul II

The Latest

Carl Anderson, pictured at the Angelicum in Rome on March 17, 2022.

Carl Anderson: ‘The Christian heritage of the West cannot be preserved by looking backward’

Mar 17, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus was speaking at the Angelicum in Rome. Read more

The Bishop’s Palace in Kraków, southern Poland.

St. John Paul II’s former residence in Poland opens doors to Ukrainian refugees

Mar 9, 2022

By CNA Staff

Almost 1.3 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Poland. Read more

Staff of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow, Poland

Pope Francis commends university in Poland for six centuries of Catholic education

Jan 11, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis encouraged the students at the university to live out its motto: “Go and make disciples.” Read more

Pope John Paul II circa 1991.

5 ways Saint Pope John Paul II changed the Catholic Church forever

Oct 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

You probably know that St. Pope John Paul II was the second longest-serving pope in modern history with 27 years... Read more

St. John Paul II, circa 1992.

That time a priest was reprimanded by a saint

Oct 22, 2021

By Mary Farrow

When white smoke poured out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on October 16, 1978, Fr. Eamon Kelly, a... Read more

Pope John Paul II in 1996.

Could St. John Paul II be declared a Doctor of the Church?

Oct 22, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Polish bishops’ conference made a formal request in 2019. Read more

Cupola of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City

The Papal Foundation provides $800K in scholarships for studies in Rome

Sep 16, 2021

By Christine Rousselle

The Papal Foundation awarded nearly $800,000 in scholarships to 96 priests, brothers, sisters, and lay faithful as part of the... Read more

Pilgrims arrive at Jasna Gora shrine to pray before Our Lady of Częstochowa.

40,000 Catholics make pilgrimage to Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland

Aug 17, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The traditional walking pilgrimage to venerate an icon of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa housed in the shrine dates back... Read more

St. Albert Chmielowski.

Thief returns relics of Polish Catholic saint who inspired Pope John Paul II

Jun 18, 2021

By CNA Staff

The perpetrator apologized for stealing the relics of St. Albert Chmielowski. Read more

Pope John Paul II in 1996.

George Weigel lauds ‘thoroughly lovable’ John Paul II 101 years after saint’s birth

May 18, 2021

The Polish pope was born in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920. Read more

Pope John Paul II collapses after being shot on May 13, 1981, in St. Peter’s Square.

‘I was in shock’: Polish cardinal recalls assassination attempt on St. John Paul II 40 years on

May 13, 2021

The Polish pope collapsed into the arms of Msgr. Dziwisz when he was struck by four bullets on May 13,... Read more

The canonizations of St. John Paul and St. John XXIII in St. Peter’s Square, April 27, 2014.

Postulator: St. John Paul II remains a ‘prophetic voice’ seven years after canonization

Apr 27, 2021

“At the beginning of this process, Pope Benedict XVI gave me a clear instruction: work fast but work well.” Read more

The entrance of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church in Paris, France.

St. John Paul II bust vandalized outside Polish Catholic church in Paris

Apr 20, 2021

An unidentified perpetrator poured red paint over the sculpture of the pope who was canonized in 2014. Read more

Pope St. John Paul II.

The next hundred years of St. John Paul II’s legacy

Apr 2, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

Pope St. John Paul II— who would have turned 100 years old May 18— was a man of great humility,... Read more

Pope John Paul II holds a crucifix carved by Stanisław Trafalski on Good Friday 2005

‘O crux, ave spes unica!’: The story of the crucifix St. John Paul II held on his last Good Friday

Apr 2, 2021

By CNA Staff

Days before his death, Pope John Paul II was pictured holding a crucifix in his private chapel on Good Friday.... Read more

The logo of the Veritas Amoris Project. Screenshot from veritasamoris.org.

International Catholic project launched to promote ‘truth of love’ to 21st-century world

Feb 2, 2021

By CNA Staff

An international group of Catholic academics has launched an ambitious new project to proclaim the “truth of love” to 21st-century... Read more

Pope John Paul II, pictured in 1992.

St. John Paul II: 1,700 professors respond to ‘wave of accusations’ against Polish pope

Dec 12, 2020

Hundreds of Polish professors have signed an appeal defending St. John Paul II following criticism in the wake of the... Read more

Pope John Paul II in 1996.

New book highlights St. John Paul II’s influence amid Cold War

Nov 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

A new book on St. John Paul II examines the relationship of the Polish pope with Central and Eastern European... Read more

Pope John Paul II at prayer in 1991.

Polish Catholic university defends St. John Paul II against ‘slander’ in wake of McCarrick Report

Nov 17, 2020

A Polish Catholic university rejected Saturday claims that St. John Paul II failed to combat clerical abuse.  Read more

The mural of St. John Paul II in Stalowa Wola, Poland.

Polish city unveils giant St. John Paul II mural in centenary year

Oct 22, 2020

A Polish city has unveiled a giant mural of St. John Paul II in honor of the birth centenary of... Read more