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Saint Pope John Paul II Catholic wood carving Statuary; Saint John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) Pope
October 22 - Optional Memorial
Wadowice, Krakow, May 18, 1920 - Vatican City, April 2, 2005
(Pope from 22/10/1978 to 02/04/2005 ).
Born in Wadowice, Poland, he is the first Slavic pope and the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI. In his opening speech of the pontificate he reiterated that he wanted to carry on the legacy of the Second Vatican Council. On May 13, 1981, in St. Peter's Square, the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima, he was seriously wounded with a gunshot by the Turk Ail Agca. At the center of his proclamation the Gospel, without discounts. Very important are his encyclicals, among which are to remember the """"Redemptory hominis"""", the """"Dives in misericordia"""", the """"Labored exercens"""", the """"Veritatis splendor"""" and the """"Evangelism vitae"""". Interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, the defense of peace, and human dignity are daily commitments of his apostolic and pastoral ministry. From his numerous trips to the five continents emerges his passion for the Gospel and for the freedom of peoples. Messages, impressive liturgies, unforgettable gestures: from the meeting in Assisi with religious leaders from all over the world to the prayers at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. This is how Karol Wojtyla ferries humanity into the third millennium. Pope Benedict XVI beatified him on May 1, 2011 and finally Pope Francis, in the presence of his predecessor, canonized St. John Paul II on April 27, 2014. His body rests in a side altar of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. His optional liturgical memorial falls on Oct. 22.
