Saint John Paul II

Karol Józef Wojtyła was born on May 18, 1920, in the city of Wadowice, Poland. He was the youngest of three siblings and his birth was considered risky by doctors, who advised his mother to terminate the pregnancy. However, she decided to move on and this gesture proved prophetic, as Karol became a great defender of family and life throughout his life.

The loss of your family members

Unfortunately, Karol’s life was marked by several losses. His mother, Emilia, died nine years after his birth, due to her poor health. Three years later, his older brother, Edmund, also died from an infection contracted while treating the sick in a scarlet fever epidemic. Karol remembered his brother as a “martyr of duty”. At age 21, he lost his last family member, his father. It was from his father that he learned the values of love for the Virgin Mary, honesty, bravery and patriotism.

From non-vocation to the third greatest pontificate in history

During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Karol worked in a quarry and in a chemical factory to avoid deportation to Germany. He witnessed the horrors of war and the deep scars left on his beloved Poland. He also had remarkable experiences with people who suffered at the hands of the Nazis. These experiences taught him to love his country and to understand that the path of peace is always the best one to follow. He discovered his vocation to the priesthood during these difficult years and smuggled himself into the seminary in 1942.

John Paul II: Elected Pope in 1978

Karol Wojtyła was elected Pope on October 16, 1978, succeeding Pope John Paul I. He chose the name John Paul II and dedicated his papacy to the values he learned throughout his life, in promoting the Gospel of Christ.

Peace Mediator

John Paul II was known for his conciliatory and peacemaking speech. He brokered peace in several conflict situations and fought against communist influence in Poland using the Gospel and love as his weapons. He strongly defended family values and the dignity of every human being. His theology of the body was an example of his defense of human dignity.

The great motto “Totus Tuus”

John Paul II had a deep love and devotion to the Virgin Mary. He chose the motto “Totus Tuus”, which means “all yours, Mary”, to express his total dedication to her. He attributed his survival from the attack he suffered in 1981 to the intercession of Our Lady of Fátima.

Legacy

John Paul II’s pontificate was marked by his fight against communism, defense of the family, encouragement of interreligious dialogue and promotion of peace. He created World Youth Days, wrote several encyclicals and canonized several saints. His example of holiness and courage continues to inspire people to this day.

And so, Saint John Paul II entered eternity on April 2, 2005. His funeral brought together millions of faithful in Rome and he was beatified in 2011 and canonized in 2014. His legacy as a defender of family and life continues to live on and his The invitation to “not be afraid” echoes in our hearts.