Pope St. John Paul II

The Latest

Pope Francis meets members of the Papal Foundation in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, April 28, 2022.

Papal Foundation visits Rome, marks 35 years and $200 million in donations to the poor

Apr 19, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Papal Foundation, a U.S.-based organization that provides funding for Catholic projects, is in Rome for its annual pilgrimage and... Read more

Pope John Paul II, circa 1979.

Read the message for Divine Mercy Sunday that Pope John Paul II wrote just before he died

Apr 16, 2023

By CNA Staff

A message by Pope John Paul II for Divine Mercy Sunday, written prior to his death, was read at the... Read more

Pope Francis at the Regina Caeli on April 16, 2023 (L) and a tapestry of St. Pope John Paul II from his canonization on April 27, 2014 (R).

Pope Francis defends St. John Paul II against ‘offensive conjectures’ from brother of missing ‘Vatican girl’

Apr 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“I address a grateful thought to the memory of St. John Paul II, at this time the object of unfounded... Read more

Original painting of the Divine Mercy, by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in 1934. Wikimedia Commons 4.0.

Divine Mercy Sunday 2023: Here’s how to obtain a plenary indulgence

Apr 15, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

St. John Paul II and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska both became saints and they were both instrumental in the institution... Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ, speaking at a press conference in the Vatican on Aug. 26, 2022.

Cardinal Hollerich: There’s ‘space to expand’ Church teaching on all-male priesthood

Mar 28, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Pope Francis does not want the ordination of women, and I am completely obedient to that. But people continue to... Read more

A priest surveys the damage caused by ISIS at a Catholic Church in Karamles, Iraq.

Vatican’s ambassador during Iraq war: Under Saddam Hussein ‘the Church was respected’

Mar 21, 2023

By Zelda Caldwell

The papal nuncio in Iraq at the time of the U.S. invasion 20 years ago said Christians in Iraq were... Read more

Pope St. John Paul II in 1979.

In Poland, lawmakers condemn disputed report about John Paul II abuse cover-up

Mar 10, 2023

By Kevin J. Jones

Referring to the report’s use of material taken from communist secret police files, the resolution said it was “an attempt... Read more

Pope John Paul II in 1996.

Polish bishops: New allegation that JPII covered up sex abuse based on reports from communist secret police

Mar 8, 2023

By Tyler Arnold

The bishops said that “further archival research” is necessary to fairly assess a new claim aired in a recent documentary.  Read more

Pope Benedict XVI visits the tomb of the late Pope John Paul II in the grotto beneath St. Peter's Basilica after a meeting with young Catholics, in preparation of the XXI World Youth Day at the Vatican April 6, 2006.

Benedict XVI to be buried in first tomb of Pope John Paul II

Jan 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Benedict XVI’s coffin will be carried to the crypt under the central part of St. Peter’s Basilica for interment after... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI wearing brilliant red shoes arrives to attend an interreligious gathering at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center on April 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.

The story behind Pope Benedict XVI’s red shoes

Jan 1, 2023

By Katie Yoder

Benedict’s choice of shoes stands out because his predecessor and successor — St. John Paul II and Pope Francis —... Read more

The Holy House of Our Lady in the Shrine of Loreto.

How could the Holy House of Mary in Nazareth have ended up in Loreto, Italy?

Dec 10, 2022

By Courtney Mares

Catholic pilgrims have flocked to the Holy House of Loreto since the 14th century to stand inside the walls where... Read more

St. John Paul II, circa 1992.

Journalists contradict allegations of ‘cover up’ against John Paul II before he was pope

Dec 7, 2022

By CNA Staff

Journalists investigating secular and Catholic Church sources in Poland have called into question allegations by a Dutch writer. Read more

Lech Walesa on Nov. 19, 2022, at the Conservative Action Political Conference (CPAC) in Mexico.

Lech Walesa, friend of St. John Paul II, exposes the lies of communism

Nov 22, 2022

By Ana Paula Morales

The former president of Poland was in Mexico to participate in the first Conservative Political Action Conference in the country. Read more

Image of St. John Paul II in his chapel in the Cathedral of Madrid

Archdiocese of Madrid pays ‘debt’ to John Paul II, dedicates cathedral chapel in his honor

Nov 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

The cathedral of the Archdiocese of Madrid dedicated Nov. 13 a new chapel in honor of St. John Paul II,... Read more

Michelangelo's The Creation of Eve, from the Sistine Chapel ceiling, c. 1510.

What Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel teaches us about God’s creation, woman and man

Nov 15, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Michelangelo’s artistic masterpiece broke new ground in portraying the dynamic creative acts of God, art historian Elizabeth Lev said. Read more

St. John Paul II during an open-air Mass on June 9, 1991, in Warsaw, Poland.

15 quotes from St. John Paul II on his love for the Eucharist

Oct 22, 2022

By Katie Yoder

Catholics worldwide remember St. John Paul II on his feast day, Oct. 22. His “secret” to life and all that... Read more

"Prophet," a film about Polish cardinal, Blessed Stefan Wyszyński, is airing in the United States on Nov. 15 and 17, 2022.

New film about Polish cardinal’s fight against communism coming in November

Oct 20, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

In U.S. theaters Nov. 15 and 17, “Prophet” relates the important events in the life of Blessed Stefan Wyszyński, who... Read more

Dr. José María Simón Castellví

Catholic doctor criticizes Pontifical Academy for Life’s appointing of abortion advocates

Oct 19, 2022

By CNA Staff

In an article published Oct. 19, Spanish doctor José María Simón Castellví warned that these appointments are “just the opposite... Read more

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The reasons St. John Paul II gave for adding the Luminous Mysteries to the rosary

Oct 18, 2022

By CNA Staff

Twenty years ago, St. John Paul II published “Rosarium Virginis Mariae,” adding five Luminous Mysteries to the traditional 15 meditated... Read more

Image posted by the Synod of Synodality on its social media networks.

Priests reject controversial synod poster: it’s ‘out of bounds and confusing’

Sep 29, 2022

By CNA Staff

Two Spanish priests recently posted their analyses on social media of a controversial drawing posted to the Synod on Synodality... Read more