Understanding the Man Behind the Papacy.
Before he was St. John Paul II, he was born Karol Wojtyla, on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. He was the youngest of his siblings and although he was born into a loving family, they were not exempt from the sorrows and trials of life. In his early life he lost his older sister and at the age of twelve his mother died of Kidney failure. His older brother also died heroically serving those sick with Scarlet fever. Although he experienced tremendous loss, he lived under the loving guidance of his Father, and was a vibrant youth.
As a young man he attended university where he studied Polish, literature, theater and poetry. Although he was preoccupied by these studies and his extracurriculars in the theater, it was here that he met his spiritual mentor. It was through this connection that he was introduced to St. John of the Cross. This Introduction to this Carmelite mystic is what changed the course of his life, leading him to the priesthood. Although his studies in the seminary were interrupted by the nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. His studies resumed and he was ordained to the priesthood in 1946, then auxiliary bishop of Krakow in 1958.
“Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ…. Christ knows ‘what is in man.’ He alone knows it.” -Pope John Paul II in his Inaugural Address, St. Peter’s Square, October 22, 1978
Cardinal Wojtyla was elected Pope October 16, 1978 and he took the name John Paul II. He was the 263rd successor to Peter and had one of the longest pontificates in the history of the Church (nearly 27 years) His pontificate was marked by great joy and a focus on the universal call to holiness. His Missionary spirit led him on many apostolic journeys around the world and led him to establishing World Youth Day, which was celebrated 19 times during his pontificate.
In his later life, St. Pope John Paul II spent much of his time uniting himself to Christ on the Cross through his suffering of Parkinson’s disease, as well as the effects of the wounds from his attempted assassination as well as multiple surgeries and the loss of his voice. He passed away during the first vespers of Divine mercy Sunday in 2005.
On April 28, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI announced that the normal five-year waiting period before beginning the cause of beatification and canonization would be waived for John Paul II. On May 1, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI beatified Pope John Paul II, and Pope Francis canonized Saint John Paul II alongside Saint John XXIII on April 27, 2014.