Pope St. John Paul II

The Latest

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, pictured in Kraków, Poland, March 4, 2016.

Cardinal Dziwisz: heed St. John Paul II’s appeal for peace on World War II anniversary

Sep 1, 2020

The world needs once again to hear St. John Paul II’s appeal for an end to war, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz... Read more

John Paul II rose.

JPII rose added to White House Rose Garden

Aug 22, 2020

A rose named for the late Pope St. John Paul II has been included in a renovation of the White... Read more

Ross Douthat on EWTN Pro-Life Weekly, March 19, 2020.

Douthat: Cardinals should look for 'dynamic orthodoxy' in next pope

Jun 25, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Catholic columnist Ross Douthat on Wednesday said that the eventual next conclave could produce a leader in the mould of... Read more

The font where St. John Paul II was baptized in Wadowice, Poland. Courtesy of the Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Polish Catholics celebrate centenary of St. John Paul II’s baptism

Jun 20, 2020

The Church in Poland will celebrate the centenary of the baptism of St. John Paul II Saturday.  Read more

 Poland’s bishops celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wadowice June 15, 2020. Courtesy of the Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Bishops entrust Polish Church to Mary in St. John Paul II centenary year

Jun 15, 2020

Bishops entrusted the Church in Poland to the Virgin Mary on Monday as they marked the centenary of the birth... Read more

Pope John Paul II celebrates the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception in Rome, December 08, 2004.

How St. John Paul II 'bent the course of history'

May 18, 2020

By Christine Rousselle

Papal biographer George Weigel said that St. John Paul II demonstrated “the power of religious and moral conviction to bend... Read more

Pope John Paul II made Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, a cardinal in St. Peter's Square on Feb. 21, 2001.

Pope Francis: St. John Paul II was an ‘extraordinary gift’ to the Church

May 18, 2020

Pope Francis described St. John Paul II as “an extraordinary gift of God to the Church and to Poland” in... Read more

The tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) in Łagiewniki, Poland.

Pope Francis adds St. Faustina Kowalska’s feast day to Roman Calendar

May 18, 2020

Pope Francis has decreed that St. Faustina Kowalska’s feast day be added to the Roman Calendar as an optional memorial... Read more

Joan Lewis meets St. John Paul II Dec 10, 1985. Photo courtesy of Joan Lewis

Baking cookies for St. John Paul II and other memories for his 100th birthday

May 18, 2020

By Courtney Mares

“Thirty-nine years ago today I was on my way into St. Peter’s Square when the pope was shot,” Joan Lewis... Read more

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the tomb of St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica May 18, 2020.

Pope Francis praises St. John Paul II as man of prayer and justice

May 18, 2020

St. John Paul II was a man of prayer who was close to the people and loved justice, Pope Francis... Read more

Pope Francis waves from a window of the apostolic palace May 10, 2020.

Pope Francis: St. John Paul II is remembered with 'affection and gratitude'

May 17, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis Sunday recalled the 100th anniversary of the birth of St. Pope John Paul II, saying his predecessor is... Read more

Pope John Paul II blesses the pilgrims during the weekly general audience in Saint Peter's Square in 2004.

Polish bishops launch #ThankYouJohnPaul2 campaign for pope’s centenary 

May 16, 2020

The Polish bishops are encouraging Catholics to share their memories and witness of how St. John Paul II influenced their... Read more

 Pope John Paul II in 1996.

Full text: Benedict XVI's letter marking St. John Paul II's birth centenary

May 15, 2020

The full text of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI's letter marking the centenary of the birth of St. John Paul II. The... Read more

Pope John Paul II greets Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger during his inauguration October 22, 1978.

Benedict XVI hails John Paul II as ‘liberating restorer’ of Church

May 15, 2020

John Paul II was a “liberating restorer of the Church” in the turbulent years after the Second Vatican Council, Benedict... Read more

Pope Francis prays before the tombs of his predecessors in the grotto of St. Peter's Basilica, Nov. 2, 2015.

Pope Francis to offer Mass at tomb of John Paul II on saint’s 100th birthday

May 12, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

On the 100th anniversary of the birth of Pope St. John Paul II on May 18, Pope Francis will offer... Read more

St. John Paul II’s father, Karol Wojtyła, and mother, Emilia, with their eldest son, Edmund.

St. John Paul II’s parents’ sainthood cause has officially opened

May 7, 2020

The sainthood causes of St. John Paul II’s parents were formally opened in Poland Thursday.  Read more

Pope St. John Paul II in 1979.

Pope Francis hails St. John Paul II's 'great witness' ahead of centenary

May 5, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said that he has looked up to St. John Paul II throughout his priesthood in a book foreword... Read more

Saintly superhero: When Marvel Comics told the life story of John Paul II

May 5, 2020

By Jonah McKeown

Pope St. John Paul II, who led the Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, is perhaps one... Read more

ope John Paul II attends the Stations Of The Cross ceremony from his private chapel on March 25, 2005 in Vatican City.

John Paul II embraced his suffering with love: Cardinal reflects 15 years after saint’s death

Apr 2, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope St. John Paul II embraced suffering with love, even during his illness, a cardinal and the archpriest of St.... Read more

Pope Francis gives his Wednesday audience message on March 18, 2020.

Pope Francis: The Church’s pro-life message is more relevant than ever

Mar 25, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that the Church's pro-life message is more relevant than ever as the world faces the coronavirus... Read more