Pope John Paul II |
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Karol Wojtyla born
in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920. He was the first Pontiff of Polish
origin and the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years, since Hadrian VI.
Theologian, writer and poet, he was a Pope with an itinerant apostolate.
Including his historic visit to Cuba, he traveled extensively visiting 100
countries, including those without a Catholic majority. He was invited
twice, February 3, 1979 and April 10, 1995, to give speeches at the UN.
He spoke to the Seats of major World Institutions, including UNESCO,
FAO and the European Parliament.
In 1979, he went to
Constantinople to meet with the Orthodox Patriarch Demetrio I. After a
millennial separation, he reconciled with the Jewish community, on April
13, 1986, with a visit to Rome's Synagogue where he prayed with the "older
brothers" and embraced the rabbi. On January 1, 1986, he went to Assisi
to pray for peace together with the representatives of different religious
doctrines from around the world.
There was an
attempt on his life during a general audience in St. Peter's Square on May
13, 1981. He wrote 11 Encyclicals;
the last one, "Evangelium Vitae ", written in 1995, defends life, speaking
out against abortion, euthanasia and the death penalty. On October 11,
1992, after long consultation and labor with the world episcopacy, he
signed the New Catechism of the Catholic Church, later translated into
every language. He nominated dozens of cardinals and, in view of the
third millennium, had summoned numerous bishop synods. He acted as a
leader in events that have changed the world. On December 11, 1989, he
received Mikhail Gorbachev, then President of USSR. During a trip to Cuba
in 1998, he met with Fidel Castro.
Pope
John Paul II officially announced the celebration of the Jubilee for the
year 2000 with his apostolic letter "Tertio Millenio adveniente", dated
November 24, 1994. For the first time in history, the Papal Bull dated
January, 29, 1998 proclaimed that the Holy Year for the year 2000 would be
celebrated contemporaneously in Rome as well as in the Holy Land, and in
local churches. The Holy Doors at St. Peter's were opened during midnight
mass on December 24, 1999 and the Jubilee ended on January 6, 2001.
Including his trip to Mexico City on January 22,1999, the Pope was
estimated to have traveled a total of over 700,000 miles including 110
international tours, the equivalent of having traveled 28 times around the
world. Source: The Popes by Memmo Caporilli |
John Paul II 1978 - 2005 The 264th Pope
"The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the faithful."
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