This man did more for Christianity than dozens of his predecessors. When he died, the whole world mourned, forgetting about religious differences.
Catholics, Orthodox, and Muslims did not look away from the TV: they followed the news about the health of the pontiff.
He died and people cried, forgetting about religious strife. We saw off not just the head of the church - we saw off a Man.
Pope
most influential religious figure in the world
The history of this title is older than the line of succession of the Dalai Lamas. The founder of the tradition, the Apostle Peter, knew Christ personally.
And the current Pope Francis is responsible for the spiritual education of 1.2 million Catholics.
Despite all these facts, of the more than 250 people who inherited this title, few are widely known.
A conservative approach to tradition keeps popes from innovating. It is difficult to compare their names with any significant events for the church. But Pope John Paul II is an exception.
Pope John Paul II
John Paul II is the first non-Italian pope in 455 years
For almost five centuries, only Italians became popes. It could happen again. At least Pope John Paul I is Italian.
When he was elected in 1978, it seemed the tradition would continue. But after 33 days, the new pontiff died unexpectedly.
Officially - myocardial infarction, although there are conspiracy theories.
John Paul I died after 33 days of papacy, prompting a new vote to elect his friend Karol Wojtyła as pontiff.
The news disheartened the clergy. No one thought that they would have to think about a change so soon. The highest ranks of the clergy again locked themselves in a conclave for the election of a new pontiff.
The voters did not come to a decision. Two Italians - the Archbishop of Genoa and Giovanni Benelli - were the favorites.
1st Pole
became Pope. This is what is remarkable about John Paul II
But none of the solutions satisfied everyone present. Gradually, an outsider came forward - Karol Wojtyla. And he won!
He is the first Pole to become a pope. The media of related nations noted with pleasure that the pope was a Slav.
These coincidences are similar to Divine provision. And, as history shows, the Lord was not mistaken in his choice: John Paul II became an outstanding Pope.
The first Pole in history to become Pope
Karol Józef Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920 in the Polish city of Wadowice near Krakow. He was the youngest of three children in the family of lieutenant Karol Wojtyla and teacher Emilia Kaczorowska. When Karol was 8 years old, his mother died, and four years later his older brother died. In 1938, Wojtyla moved with his father to Krakow and entered the Jagiellonian University, where he studied philosophy and various languages. He performed in theater groups, took rhetoric classes, and wrote poetry. During this time, his talent for languages blossomed: he spoke 12 languages fluently.
During the German occupation, he left his studies and worked in a quarry, and then at a chemical plant, to avoid deportation to work in Germany. In 1941, his father dies; “At the age of 20, I had already lost everyone I loved,” John Paul II himself would later say about this. After the death of his father, he began to seriously think about the life of a church minister. In October 1942, he knocked on the door of the Bishop's Palace in Krakow and asked to study to become a priest. Karol remained in the underground seminary until the end of the war, and on November 1, 1946, Wojtyła was ordained a priest and was transferred to Rome to continue his theological education. In 1948 he returned to Poland, and in 1953 he defended his dissertation at the Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University, after which he began teaching.
Visit to the Carmelite Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krakow - early June 1967, shortly before his appointment as cardinal. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org
In 1958, Father Wojtyla was ordained bishop and from 1962–1964. took part in all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council, showing himself to be one of its active participants. Thanks to this work, in January 1964 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop, metropolitan of Krakow. In 1967, Pope Paul VI elevated him to the rank of cardinal priest. In August 1978, Karol Wojtyla participated in the conclave that elected Pope John Paul I, but the elected pope died just 33 days later. In October, another conclave took place, at which Wojtyła was elected pope and, upon ascending the throne, took the name of his predecessor, becoming John Paul II.
John Paul II refused regalia and simplified his position as much as possible
The new pontiff refused the coronation. He did not like luxurious attributes reminiscent of royalty. “The Pope is the servant of the servants of God,” reminded John Paul II, seeking to simplify the position.
He did not wear a tiara, said “I” instead of the usual “we” and remained the same simple man with kind eyes - without any arrogance.
Pope John Paul II did not like feigned importance, behaved at ease and often joked
Pope John Paul II interacted with world leaders and participated in international politics
The significance of John Paul II for the 20th century cannot be overestimated. He is one of the most influential people of the last century. The pope's views were reflected not only in the policies of the Vatican, but also in the destinies of other countries.
For example, he played a significant role in ensuring that no blood was shed during the change of power in Poland.
The pontiff had a hand in the collapse of communism in Europe. He repeatedly spoke out against wars and was not afraid to condemn the policies of such powers as America and Great Britain.
He defended human rights and freedoms and rejected authoritarianism.
John Paul II interacted with many figures of his era. In the photo he is with Saint Mother Teresa
The Queen of Great Britain visited the Vatican on a state visit - an event that was previously unthinkable. She invited the pontiff to visit her country on a pastoral visit.
The Vatican also established diplomatic relations with Israel.
The Pope was the first of the Catholic clergy to extend his hand to the USSR and received Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko.
After his meeting with Gorbachev, John Paul II was called a fighter against atheistic humanism.
After two meetings with John Paul II, M. Gorbachev remained an atheist, but began to respect Christian values and made Christmas a public holiday
Conservative, anti-communist, peacemaker
John Paul II is considered one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century. He proved himself to be an irreconcilable fighter against communist ideas. When the pope first met with the leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev in the Vatican in 1989, the biographer of John Paul II George Waagel described it as follows: “Gorbachev’s visit to the Vatican was an act of surrender of atheistic humanism as an alternative to the development of mankind.” Being a staunch conservative, John Paul II strongly condemned the “liberation theology” popular among Catholics in Latin America and, in particular, excommunicated the priest Ernesto Cardenal, who joined the socialist Sandinista government of Nicaragua.
John Paul II repented for the crimes of the church
That was incredible! An infallible reputation is important for religion. The position “we are always right” is one of the pillars of most faiths. After all, no one will follow the shepherd if he is wrong? It’s scary to imagine where it could lead.
Previous heads of the Roman Catholic Church gently avoided sensitive historical topics. But John Paul 2 found the courage to speak from his heart. He had been waiting for this opportunity since the Second Vatican Council. The pope made many penances on behalf of the church. For example:
- For the massacre of Protestants on St. Bartholomew's Night.
- For ignoring the Holocaust.
- For religious wars.
- For the burning of Protestants.
- For the trade in African slaves.
- For the trial of Galileo Galilei.
- For the crimes of the Inquisition.
- For the horrors of the Crusades.
- For sexual abuse by Catholic priests.
- For the children stolen from the Australian Aborigines.
- For gender and national discrimination.
Pope John Paul II - one of the symbols of the 20th century
His image is very recognizable and has become widespread in popular culture. The Pontiff can be seen in films, he is depicted in paintings, and music is composed in his honor. Experimental art also did not pass by dad.
The Pontiff reacted to him with humor. Theater artist and painter Dmitry Krymov recalls:
“I painted his portrait from a photograph and came to present it.
I liked John Paul II, and besides, I was in my “portrait period” at that time.
I showed the portrait to one person in Moscow, he occupied the lowest rank in the Catholic hierarchy, then each higher rank, up to the archbishop, looked at it successively.
And they considered it suitable for a gift. And they scheduled an audience with me.
Everyone fell silent when they saw the portrait, because it was quite free, even hooligan...
In any case, what seemed natural in Moscow caused a pause in the Vatican...
And dad, after waiting for this pause, said a phrase in Latin, which was immediately translated to me: “Don’t be afraid, it’s me!” A phrase that Jesus said to the apostles who met him after the ascension and were afraid.
And dad, seeing some fear on the faces of his colleagues - is there heresy there? — said the same phrase. Noli timere, quia ego sum.”
Dmitry Krymov
artist
Pope John Paul II sought reconciliation with other religions
February 2, 1986 John Paul II and the Dalai Lama XIV during the pope's 10-day visit to India
The pontificate of John Paul II was distinguished by its openness to other religions.
The Pope was concerned about relations not only with Protestants and Orthodox Christians, but also with Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims.
October 27, 1986
the day the world day of prayer took place in Italy
On October 27, 1986, the World Day of Prayer took place in Italy. Representatives of 60 faiths prayed together for peace.
The pope also spoke to Muslims and established communication with the Greek Orthodox Church. The Pontiff also held a service with the Archbishop of Canterbury for the first time since the separation of the Anglicans.
Once in the synagogue he said:
“You are our beloved brothers and, one might say, our elder brothers.”
John Paul II never neglected the shrines and temples of other religions. He visited them willingly and prayed.
John Paul II respected other people's shrines. In the photo he is at the Western Wall
Pope
In August 1978, Karol Wojtyla participated in the conclave that elected Pope John Paul I, but he died just 33 days after his election. Another conclave took place in October. Its participants were split into supporters of two Italian contenders - Giuseppe Siri, Archbishop of Genoa, known for his conservative views, and the more liberal Giovanni Benelli, Archbishop of Florence. Ultimately, Wojtyła became a compromise candidate and was elected pope. Upon his accession to the throne, Wojtyła took the name of his predecessor and became John Paul II
. He became the first Polish pope and the first non-Italian since 1523.
Like his predecessor, John Paul II tried to simplify his position, stripping it of many of the royal attributes. In particular, when talking about himself, he used the pronoun “I” instead of “we,” as is customary among reigning persons. The Pope abandoned the coronation ceremony, holding a simple inauguration instead. He did not wear the papal tiara and always sought to emphasize the role that is indicated in the pope's title, Servus Servorum Dei (servant of the servants of God).
In 1979, John Paul II met for the first time with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR A.A. Gromyko. This was an unprecedented event, given the lack of diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the Vatican. On December 1, 1989, the pope met with the Soviet leader M.S. Gorbachev, and already on March 15, 1990, diplomatic relations were established between the USSR and the Vatican.
On January 25, 1979, the pope's visit to Mexico began. This was the first of 104 trips abroad by the pontiff. In the summer of 1979, John Paul II visited his native Poland. His election as head of the Roman Catholic Church became a spiritual impetus for the struggle of the Poles against the communist regime and for the emergence of the Solidarity movement. Later, the pope visited his homeland seven more times, but never gave reason to accuse himself of inciting the opposition to a coup.
On May 13, 1981, in Rome's Piazza St. Peter's life, John Paul II was assassinated by a member of the Turkish far-right group "Grey Wolves" Mehmet Ali Agca. Agca wounded John Paul II in the chest and arm and was captured. In 1983, the pope visited Agca, who was imprisoned and sentenced to life imprisonment. What exactly they talked about still remains a mystery, but dad told reporters that he had forgiven Agca. In 1984, Agca testified that the assassination attempt was organized by Bulgarian and Soviet intelligence services. Three Bulgarians and three Turks were arrested, allegedly involved in the assassination attempt, but were released due to lack of evidence. Later, at the request of the pope, Agca was pardoned by the Italian authorities and handed over to the Turkish justice authorities. In 2005, Agca said that certain Vatican cardinals were involved in the assassination attempt. On March 2, 2006, excerpts from the report of the Italian parliament commission investigating the circumstances of the assassination attempt on John Paul II were published. The head of the commission, Senator Paolo Guzanti, told reporters about the involvement of the USSR leadership in the elimination of John Paul II. The report is based on information published by the former head of the archives department of the USSR KGB, Vasily Mitrokhin, who fled to the UK in 1992.
Ecumenical activities
John Paul II actively made contacts with representatives of other faiths. In 1980, Queen Elizabeth II of England (she is also the head of the Anglican Church) visited the Vatican on a state visit. It was a historic visit, given that for many centuries the British monarchs and the Roman pontiffs had been bitter enemies. Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to visit the Vatican on a state visit and even invited the Pope to Britain for a pastoral visit to 4 million British Catholics.
In 1982, the Pope met with the Archbishop of Canterbury and held a joint service.
In August 1985, at the invitation of King Hassan II, the Pope spoke in Morocco to an audience of fifty thousand young Muslims. He spoke about the misunderstanding and hostility that previously existed between Christians and Muslims, and called for the establishment of “peace and unity between the people and peoples who make up a single community on Earth.”
In April 1986, for the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, the pope crossed the threshold of the synagogue, where, sitting next to the chief rabbi of Rome, he uttered a phrase that became one of his most quoted statements: “You are our beloved brothers and, one might say, our elder brothers.”
In October 1986, the first interreligious meeting took place in Assisi, when 47 delegations from various Christian denominations, as well as representatives of 13 other religions, responded to the pontiff’s invitation to discuss problems of interfaith relations.
On May 6, 2001, in Damascus, John Paul II was the first pontiff to visit the mosque.
On May 7, 1999, John Paul II visited an Orthodox country, Romania, for the first time. In 2001, the pope made an official visit to Greece for the first time since 1054, when the Western Church broke away from the Eastern Church.
Repentance for mistakes
John Paul II is distinguished from the ranks of his predecessors simply by his repentance for the mistakes committed by some Catholics in the course of history. Even during the Second Vatican Council in 1962, the Polish bishops, together with Karol Wojtyla, published a letter to the German bishops about reconciliation with the words: “We forgive and ask for forgiveness.”
As pope, John Paul II brought repentance on behalf of the Western Christian Church for the crimes of the Crusades and Inquisition.
In October 1992, the Roman Catholic Church rehabilitated Galileo Galilei, and in October 1993, Nicolaus Copernicus.
In August 1997, John Paul II admitted the guilt of the church in the mass extermination of Protestants in France during the Night of St. Bartholomew on August 24, 1573, and in January 1998 he decided to open the archives of the Inquisition.
On March 12, 2000, during a traditional Sunday mass in St. Peter's Basilica, John Paul II publicly repented of the sins of the Catholic Church. He asked for forgiveness and admitted the guilt of the church for eight sins: persecution of Jews, church schism and religious wars, crusades and theological dogma justifying war, contempt for minorities and the poor, and justification of slavery.
John Paul II admitted accusations against the Catholic Church - in particular, in silence during the events of World War II and the Holocaust, when Catholic priests and bishops limited themselves to saving Jews and other people persecuted by the Nazis.
The Pontiff traveled widely to establish contacts with other religions
John Paul II wanted the whole world to become friends and overcome prejudices. Sitting out until you die behind the walls of the Vatican is not the solution.
Dad visited 130 countries, and his total mileage was over 167 thousand km. Three distances to the moon!
130 countries
this is how many countries John Paul II visited during his papacy
And dad didn’t go to look at the landscapes: he worked hard for the good of the church - always, no matter where he was. But the visit to Russia did not take place. But dad wanted it.
Those he met remember how warmly John Paul II treated Russians:
Apostolic Visits
The Pontiff is also remembered by many as the most actively traveling pope. He made over 200 pastoral trips, including 104 foreign trips, covering a distance of 1,167,000 km - more than three times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. During these visits, he visited 1,022 cities in 130 countries on all continents and spent a total of more than 822 days outside the Vatican.
Most often he visited Poland, the USA and France, as well as Spain and Mexico. These trips were intended to strengthen the position of Catholicism and establish connections between Catholics and other religions, primarily Islam and Judaism. Visiting Russia remained an unfulfilled dream of John Paul II.
John Paul II kept up with the times, but protected Christian morals and traditions
The Pontiff was not afraid of condemnation. He rejected medieval prejudices.
Modern culture, the Internet, scientific progress - these are all things that the Catholic Church, at his instigation, approved. John Paul II said about science:
“Science helps religion to cleanse itself of errors and superstitions; religion helps science free itself from idolatry and claims to the absolute nature of the truths it has found.
In this way they lead each other into the wider world, where only their mutual prosperity is possible.”
“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.”
The pontiff was also keen on sports and loved skiing.
To the question: “Can a Pope ski?”, John Paul II answered in his own spirit, with humor: “A Pope cannot ski badly.”
John Paul II
Pope
But on other issues, mainly moral ones, dad remained a conservative. He condemned homosexuality, abortion and euthanasia. He also opposed the ordination of women.
The assassination attempt on John Paul II was predicted by the Virgin Mary, and he associated her with his salvation
In 1917, in the city of Fatima, a certain lady in white appeared to three children, shining brighter than the sun. All three had already met in this area with a heavenly messenger - an angel. But it’s hard to get used to miracles.
They talked to this woman - more than once. And thousands of people followed these events. The Catholic Church recognized them as a miracle, and the virgin as Mary, the Mother of God.
She conveyed three messages, “secrets,” and ordered them to be made public in specific years. The last one is a terrible prophecy.
It is identified as the assassination attempt on John Paul II in 1981. But some describe murder, not attempted murder.
May 13, 1981
An assassination attempt was made on John Paul II, predicted by the Mother of God
On May 13, the day of Our Lady of Fatima, in St. Peter's Square, Turk Mehmet Ali Agca shot at the pontiff, but hit him in the stomach.
John Paul II later admitted that he turned to the girl with the image of the Mother of God of Fatima, and this saved his life.
A mysterious lady in white in the 1910s described a terrible event to three Fatima children; Catholics believe that it was the Virgin Mary who predicted the assassination attempt on John Paul II
These coincidences shocked John Paul II. Later, he was very interested in the events in Fatima and even asked for an icon of the Kazan Mother of God to be delivered to him from the Russian church in that city.
He believed in the authenticity of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary and that all the world's problems, from lawlessness to atheism and wars, would be solved by the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
This is what the Virgin of Fatima predicted. But the interpretations of her words are different.
As for the criminal, the pope visited and forgave him. He repented, converted to Catholicism, and more than once asked for forgiveness. Throughout his life, John Paul II maintained contact with Ali Agca's family.
After his release in 2010, he called the pontiff his spiritual father and said that he wanted to move to the pope’s homeland, Poland.
April 2, 2005
day of death of John Paul II
On April 2, 2005, after a long illness, John Paul II left his body at the age of 85. Grief united all nations and faiths. The numbers speak best here:
- 300 thousand people - at the funeral liturgy;
- over a billion people prayed for peace;
- two billion people watched the farewell ceremony.
Website of Mikhail Kozhaev
On April 27, 2014, the solemn canonization of Pope John Paul II as a saint of the Catholic Church took place. This event, of course, had every reason, since who else, if not John Paul II, could be called the voice and conscience of generations in the modern world. The Pontiff led the Roman See and the entire Latin Church for almost three decades, and during this time he brought Catholicism closer and reconciled with the realities of our time. In his presence, official apologies were made to science in connection with the Inquisition and for the oppression of Jews. It was John Paul II who was the first of the Roman high priests to move after the assassination attempt on the popemobile. What else do you remember about the era of this great man? About this in our material today.
Beatification and canonization
Catholicism has two distinct procedures for canonization. The first, beatification, means declaring a Catholic blessed. The second - canonization - is the assignment of the title of saint to him. The beatification of John Paul II was carried out on May 1, 2011 by the subsequently abdicated Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica. And the canonization took place on April 27, 2014, and together with John Paul II, another Roman pontiff, John XXIII, who occupied the throne from 1958 to 1963, was canonized.
The decision to canonize them was announced by the current Pope Francis on July 5, 2013. This happened after the miracle attributed to the intercession of John Paul II was officially recognized. The canonization Mass was celebrated personally by Pope Francis with the assistance of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI - a unique event in the history of Catholicism. On April 27, 2014, in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, in the presence of 150 cardinals, almost a thousand bishops and a million believers, Pope John Paul II was officially canonized!
The sky over Rome closed to flights, the streets blocked, the metro working around the clock... The Vatican was jubilant that day, and the amazing numbers can be continued to be voiced for an hour! The security of the Eternal City was ensured by thousands of police officers. Almost 3 thousand volunteers took part in organizing the event. The authorities distributed more than 4 million bottles of water! The canonization could be watched on 18 huge screens installed throughout the Italian capital. Delegations from 122 countries, 24 heads of state and representatives of royal families who arrived in the Vatican could view the ceremony in more detail. And the broadcast of the canonization, according to some estimates, was watched by more than 2 billion people!
At least two documented miracles are required to be canonized. In the case of John Paul II, this was the miraculous healing of the French nun Marie-Simon-Pierre from Parkinson's disease, which, by the way, the pontiff himself suffered from, and the woman from Costa Rica Floribeth Mora Diaz from an aneurysm brain Both miracles occurred after the death of the pope, in 2005 and 2011, respectively. What was St. John Paul II remembered for during his lifetime?
Karol Wojtyla: a familiar name – who is it?
Pope John Paul II is a significant figure for the Catholic Church at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Taking the Holy See at the age of 58, Karol Wojtyla became the youngest pope in the last century and a half. His pontificate turned out to be one of the longest, from 1978 to 2005. John Paul II traveled more than any other pontiff in the history of the Church and visited 129 countries. Undoubtedly, for the Catholic world, Pontiff Wojtyła became one of the most active and productive hierarchs.
The future pontiff John Paul II, known in the world as Karol Wojtyla, was born in 1920 in the town of Wadowice near Krakow in Poland. He lost his parents quite early. During the years of the German occupation he was a worker, a miner, and played in an amateur theater. In 1946, Wojtyla became a priest, and in 1958 he was elevated to bishop, and in 1964 he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow. In 1967 he received the cardinal's hood from the hands of Paul VI. Karol Wojtyla was a participant in the Second Vatican Council. Pope John Paul II was a famous polyglot: the pontiff spoke several languages, including Russian. On October 16, 1978, Wojtyła was elected pope, taking the name John Paul II.
In 1926, Karol Jr. went to school. The boy began to play outdoors early, and he carried the habit of sports and outdoor recreation throughout his life. It is known that Karol Józef Wojtyła was a good skier. He started skiing since childhood, and, as a student, won amateur competitions. Already a pope, Wojtyła rode incognito in the Terminillo mountains near Rome. They also convey words that are interesting for the head of the Roman Catholic Church: “The only luxury item I have is Heads, 195, giant slalom!”
At the end of May 1967, 11 days after his 47th birthday, Karol Wojtyla received exciting news: Pope Paul VI had elevated him to the rank of cardinal. Not only he himself was amazed, but also many Polish prelates: Poland already had one cardinal, no one expected the appointment of a second, and besides, Wojtyla’s age did not correspond well to such a high rank. By his decision, Pope Paul VI showed not only respect for the personal qualities of the archbishop, but also, above all, approval of his views on the tasks of the Church. In the Sistine Chapel on June 28, the pope dressed Archbishop Wojtyla and 26 other prelates in the red cardinal's robes. The next day, Cardinal Wojtyla, along with other new cardinals, helped the pope celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square.
After the end of the Second Vatican Council and before his election to the papal throne, Wojtyla visited Germany, Australia, and the USA. In 1976, he lectured on theology at Harvard University. Repeatedly met with Zbigniew Brzezinski, National Security Advisor to President Carter. Z. Brzezinski attended the enthronement ceremony of Wojtyła in Rome. In his youth, Wojtyła wrote poetry and published it under the pseudonyms Andrzej Jawien and Stanisław Andrzej Gruda. There are even rumors that during the years of occupation the future pope was supposedly engaged, but his bride died in a concentration camp.
In Poland, Wojtyła showed great interest in questions of ethics and morality as they relate to religion. His works on these topics reflect the traditional views of the Church: he considers problems of morality in isolation from social relations - as “eternal”, unchanging categories.
33 days between John Pauls I and II
After the death of Pope Paul VI, the Roman throne was occupied for only 33 days by Pope John Paul I, Albino Luciani, who was nicknamed the “smiling pontiff.” Polish historian J. V. Kowalski writes about John Paul I that he “was distinguished by great simplicity in life and cordiality in his relationships with people. He was elected on August 25, 1978. On the 34th day of his pontificate, the pope was found dead in his bed. According to the official version, he died of a heart attack.”
Before the election of the new pope, the cardinals experienced great pessimism, perhaps caused by the tragic death of John Paul or irritation over accusations of his violent death, as well as the toxic atmosphere of the Roman Curia. Therefore, one should not be surprised that this time the foreign cardinals who arrived at the conclave spoke more decisively not only for the election of a non-Italian pope, but also for the fact that henceforth representatives of national episcopates should participate in the election of the head of the Catholic Church, and the pope himself would be deprived of royal prerogatives and governed the Church with the assistance of the Synod.
In one of his last decrees, Paul VI decreed that cardinals over 80 years of age should not be candidates for the papacy. This ban indirectly increased the intrigue of the new elections. Of the 111 cardinals who met in October 1978, 56 represented Western Europe. On October 15, in the Sistine Chapel, the votes were divided between two Italian candidates - 72-year-old Giuseppe Siri from Genoa and 57-year-old Giovanni Benelli from Florence. The confrontation between these candidates symbolized the ongoing struggle between supporters of rigid traditionalism and the liberal wing of the clergy.
On the very first day, many cardinals came to the conclusion that the chances of choosing a pope from among the Italians were negligible, since the factions behaved too irreconcilably. A natural solution could be the candidacy of a non-Italian. The current situation made us think again about what qualities are desirable for a new pontiff. Many believed that it was necessary to choose a “pastoral pope,” that is, a person directly familiar with the activities of parishes, bishoprics and archbishoprics. According to many, the Church needed a young pope who could rule over the remaining years of the 20th century. and, if possible, at the beginning of the next century. So, the requirements for the candidate were as follows: relative youth, health, developed intellect, pastoral experience, devotion to the traditions of the Vatican and a proper understanding of the international situation.
According to the unanimous opinion of the cardinals, the conclave was going to be long and difficult. It really turned out to be very difficult, although not too long, 72 hours. It took seven rounds of voting for white smoke to pour out of the notorious chimney over the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pontiff. He turned out to be the 58-year-old Polish cardinal, Archbishop of Krakow Karol Wojtyla, who took the name John Paul II.
The election of Wojtyła came as an even greater surprise to everyone than the election of his predecessor Luciani. Before the conclave, the name of the new pope did not appear in any of the possible forecasts.
Historian I. R. Grigulevich notes: “With the election of Wojtyla, for the first time since 1523, a foreigner became pope. The age of the new pontiff - almost youthful for a pope - was also unusual for the Vatican. “Attention was also drawn to the fact that the new head of the Catholic Church was a citizen of socialist Poland.”
Traveling Dad
John Paul II, with his long pontificate, radically changed the public's attitude towards the Roman throne. This was reflected in many things, starting from the very time of Wojtyła’s election. Let's give a few examples. Not so long ago, popes did not travel further than their summer residence. The first pope who ventured to travel abroad, by plane, was Paul VI. He made short visits to many countries. Paul VI made his first trip abroad five years after his election to the papal throne. The new head of the Catholic Church, Pope Wojtyla, already in the first year of his pontificate began making business, preaching and peacemaking trips around the world.
Pope John Paul II made his first trip abroad to Mexico. Soon after returning from there, dad made another trip, this time to his homeland, Poland. The visit took place in June 1979. Pope Wojtyla visited Warsaw, Krakow and five other cities, as well as the former Auschwitz death camp, where the Nazis tortured 4 million prisoners of different nationalities during the war.
Pointing to a memorial plaque with an inscription in Russian, the pope noted that one cannot pass by it indifferently, because everyone knows what role the Russian people played “in the last, most terrible war for the liberation of people.” Auschwitz, John Paul II noted, is evidence of war, bringing with it hatred, destruction, and atrocities. “Let there never be war again! – he concluded. “Peace, only peace, must guide the destinies of peoples and all humanity.”
Dad is a man of science
On November 10, 1979, a meeting of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences was held in the Vatican, which, as is known, does not conduct research work, but sets the course of the throne's policy in relation to modern science, celebrating especially significant events related to scientific life. Then the Pontifical Academy decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Albert Einstein. John Paul II personally delivered a report on this occasion.
Pope Wojtyła said in his speech: “The Apostolic See wishes to express to Einstein the recognition that he deserves for his contribution to science, namely to the knowledge of the truth present in the mystery of the universe.” Thus, the church, through the mouth of John Paul II, for the first time expressed recognition of the merits of a scientist who not only was not a Catholic or even a Christian, but was an agnostic, moreover, a rationalist. Einstein stated that he could not imagine God rewarding or punishing a creature he himself created. The author of the theory of relativity has repeatedly spoken negatively about the activities of religious leaders.
Pope Wojtyla did not stop at praising Einstein; he also admitted that Galileo Galilei was undeservedly condemned by the Church in his time. John Paul II said: “Galileo had to suffer from people and institutions of the Church who did not fully understand the legitimacy of the autonomy of science and who believed that science and faith were opposed to each other. I propose that theologians, scientists and historians, in a spirit of sincere cooperation, would subject the Galileo case to an in-depth analysis and impartially admit the mistakes whoever made them, thereby eliminating the spirit of contradiction still generated in many minds by this case, which prevents a fruitful agreement between science and faith, between the Church and the world."
This speech by the pope caused a sensation, since for the first time the head of the Catholic Church admitted that Galileo was unfairly condemned by the Inquisition. Having recognized the error of the church’s condemnation of Galileo, the pope further acted as not only a patron of science, but also its defender against all “forms of international subjugation and intellectual colonialism.” “Like all truths,” the pontiff concluded, “so scientific truth should not be accountable to anyone but to itself and the supreme truth - God, the creator of man and everything that exists and lives.”
Commenting on the general structure of the thoughts of Pope John Paul II, we can refer to the following characteristic of his former student, who recalled: “He was never afraid that theology would come into conflict with this world, and regularly invited scientists, knew all the leading experts in the field of literature and history , physicist, has always been interested in the latest achievements of science. He was curious about everything – the structure of matter, and the moral problems arising in connection with the development of medicine.” In an era when the Catholic clergy ignored or downplayed the importance of scientific ideas and achievements in both the natural sciences and the humanities, Wojtyła sought to establish a close connection with the world of science.
So, it became obvious to everyone that Pope John Paul II had turned a new page in the history of the Vatican. Now he was an energetic shepherd, an active international figure, not inclined to reclusion in the Vatican. With John Paul II, the Roman Catholic Church seemed to have acquired a new face, so necessary in a dramatically changing international environment. And, most importantly, the new pontiff could really unite the Catholic world. Regarding the nature of the activities of Pope John Paul II, it is in many ways indicative that for the first time in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, the pope personally married ordinary Catholics in the Vatican: the daughter of a janitor and a worker.
Assassination attempt on dad
No one could have expected what happened on May 13, 1981. As Pope John Paul II drove through a dense crowd through St. Peter's Square, 23-year-old Turkish terrorist Mehmet Ali Agca shot at the pontiff with a powerful Browning car. The bullet entered the abdominal cavity, severely damaged the intestines and only miraculously missed the aorta. Throwing away the pistol, Agca tried to escape, but was detained by the police.
The doctors performed the operation on Dad for almost five hours; his condition was critical, but thanks to his excellent health, Dad recovered quite quickly, although one day he again found himself on the verge of death due to an infection introduced during a blood transfusion. Four days after the operation, dad came to his senses and said that he forgives Agca. And four months later, John Paul II reappeared in St. Peter's Square.
In 1983, John Paul II visited Agca in prison and granted him his forgiveness. In 2006, after the death of John Paul II, Mehmet Ali Agca was released. The release of this man was eagerly awaited by book publishers and one film company in Hollywood. The former have already agreed to pay the most famous Turkish prisoner seven million dollars for a detailed interview and the publication of two books of his memoirs.
Mehmet Ali Agca was released from a pre-trial detention center after 30 years spent in a prison cell. Despite Agca's decades of imprisonment, the world still does not know his main secret - the motives that forced a native of a poor Turkish family to make an attempt on the life of John Paul II.
Dad the truth teller
In the 1990s. Dad focused on criticizing consumerism and reckless utilitarianism, which he considered a “virus” spreading from West to East. Over time, the pontiff launched a real crusade against consumerism and Western culture. More and more decisively, the pope accused many new European thinkers, among whom were such key figures of world culture as the Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and a number of thinkers of the Enlightenment, of hostility to Christianity.
John Paul II generally viewed the European history of the last three centuries as a series of systematic attempts to destroy the very spirit of Christianity. Most of all, he feared that the exaltation of man and the emphasis on his self-sufficiency would turn people away from the moral guidelines offered by the Church.
In 1993, the pope issued the encyclical Veritatis Splendor, which many Western theologians consider his masterpiece. The pope spent six years preparing this text, which was not so much of a political as of a religious nature.
The pope concluded the encyclical with a warning: despite the collapse of totalitarian Marxism, “there is a danger of trampling upon fundamental human rights and of exploiting the sincere religious aspirations inherent in every human being for ambitious political ends.” The Pontiff called for a closer look at life “in a democracy, which, in the absence of true values, quickly degenerates into open or thinly veiled totalitarianism.”
Dad is the man of the year
Two other events highlighted Dad's achievements: his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope was published and Time magazine named Dad its 1994 Person of the Year. All this attracted attention to John Paul II all over the world.
Publishing houses from 35 countries wished to publish the book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”. For the first time, a Roman pontiff published a work intended for the general public. By the end of 1994, the book had sold 5 million copies, published in 20 languages. “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” reflects the pope’s views on such issues as the existence of God, pain and suffering, eternal life, the relationship of Christianity to other religions, and the restoration of Christian unity.
By this time, Pope John Paul II had already published four books, sermons, discussions on religious topics and various articles. But none of these works were as successful as Crossing the Threshold of Hope. This was partly facilitated by the circumstances of its writing. In October 1993, it was planned to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the pontificate with an unusual event: the pope was supposed to give a television interview intended for the whole world. For various reasons this plan did not materialize. However, Dad kept a list of questions compiled by the journalist with whom he was supposed to interview, wrote down the answers, and then compiled them into a book. Some critics found it a simple presentation of ideas that had been expressed many times, but others found it fresh, smart and compelling.
Popes of the 21st century...
Entering the new millennium, Dad continued to follow his own path. He has aged noticeably and his health has deteriorated greatly. The pontiff has not been skiing for a long time: unsuccessful falls led to surgery on his hip. And the consequences of a serious injury in 1981 made themselves felt by inflammation and pain in the intestines. In addition, dad suffered from Parkinson's disease - a lesion of the central nervous system, which is accompanied by trembling of the hands, disturbances in gait, speech, etc.
Dad continued to travel, although, of course, not as much as before. In 2002, he visited Bulgaria, Africa and came to Canada for World Catholic Youth Day in Toronto. Traveled to Mexico, Guatemala and Poland. During his pontificate, John Paul II visited over 140 countries and was undoubtedly the most traveled pope in history. He met with 510 heads of state, 150 prime ministers and appointed 137 cardinals.
On Saturday, April 2, 2005, at 21:37 Central European Time, Pope John Paul II died in his apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He was 84 years old. In his dying hours, John Paul II received unction. Then his personal secretary, Polish Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, and Ukrainian Cardinal Marian Jaworski celebrated a Mass in the name of Divine Mercy.
The news of the death of John Paul II caused grief among people all over the world. Many took part in memorial vigils. Catholics and other faiths, locals and travelers lit candles and prayed together at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, Westminster Cathedral in London, St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Washington National Cathedral and other places. In Rome, all the church bells were ringing and the flags were at half-staff.
“Our beloved holy father has returned to the house of his Master,” Archbishop Sandri proclaimed to the tens of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, adding: “This evening we all feel orphaned.” The crowd listened silently to these words, and then, as a sign of gratitude and respect, they burst into applause.
We are all called to holiness
Having been elevated to the rank of Bishop of Rome on October 22, 1978, 58-year-old John Paul II became the youngest pope in a century and a half. His pontificate was the second longest in the recent history of the Roman Catholic Church. “The Wandering Pope,” as he was called, John Paul II traveled more than any other pontiff in the history of the Church, visiting one and a half hundred countries. He was the first pope to visit mosques and synagogues, pay a visit to the White House, meet with the President of the Soviet Union, lecture at Harvard University, wear a wristwatch, and become the author of a best-selling book.
The pontiff canonized 482 saints and issued more encyclicals than all his predecessors combined. Travels, statements, writings and an active personal position allowed John Paul II to convey his message to an unprecedented number of people and give the papacy unprecedented energy and determination, causing both warm approval and rejection.
Political and religious leaders around the world offered lavish praise for John Paul II. US President George W. Bush called him a good and zealous servant and defender of human freedom. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon noted with sadness that with the death of John Paul II, the world has lost one of the most significant leaders of a generation. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas paid tribute to the pope as an outstanding religious figure who dedicated his life to defending the values of peace, freedom and equality.
John Paul II apologized to Muslims and Jews for the Inquisition and Crusades. He called for repentance for the Holocaust, although he did not agree that the Church was to blame for it. At the same time, the position of John Paul II was consistent and holistic. He constantly reproached the secular thought of the West - social, political, economic. The Pope recognized freedom, but not permissiveness, responsibility, but not complacency. The Pontiff has always thought about the dignity of the individual, which, in his opinion, is best realized and preserved within the framework of the teachings, laws and daily activities of the Catholic Church.
In 1980, Queen Elizabeth II arrived on a state visit to the Vatican. The visit was historic, given that for many centuries the British monarchs and the Roman pontiffs had been bitter enemies. Over time, the parties more or less calmed down, and diplomatic relations were even established between the United Kingdom and the Vatican. On November 5, 2003, the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin visited the Vatican.
Before John Paul II, no Pope had attended a rock concert (1997) or a stadium hosting a football match (2000). Before him, CDs with songs that he himself wrote and sang were not published. John Paul II was history's first pontiff in many ways. But why is it so especially valuable and close to hundreds of millions of people around the world? Why did his canonization occur not half a century or a century after his death, but less than ten years after his repose?
It seems that John Paul II clearly showed the modern world that Christian commandments are not abstract categories, not unattainable practices accessible only to half a dozen ascetics. The Pontiff returned and restored the relevance of the words of the Apostle Paul: “For God has called us... to holiness” (1 Thess. IV, 7). We are all called to holiness! And John Paul II reminded us all that holiness is fundamentally possible regardless of changing times, political regimes, civilizational attitudes and other things. He himself was an example of holiness. And even though John Paul II cannot be canonized by the Orthodox Church, we all feel the holiness of his life, pastoral service and prayer for the world and us!
Father John Paul, pray to God for us!!!
In 2014, John Paul II was canonized
Immediately after the pope's death, they started talking about his canonization. The Catholic Church needs a miracle for this. It is noteworthy that John Paul II himself has canonized more people as blessed and saints than all popes since the 16th century.
The necessary miracles were found:
- The Pope healed nun Marie Simon-Pierre of Parkinson's disease.
- Prayer to the late pontiff cured brain cancer in a Costa Rican woman.
April 27, 2014
on this day John Paul II was canonized
On April 27, 2014, John Paul II was canonized.
This is one of the fastest canonizations in the history of Catholicism - only 8 years from the moment of death.
Icon of John Paul II, in Catholicism icons are not intended for veneration, it is rather painting on a religious theme
As a legacy to the world, this holy man left over 120 works on philosophy and theology, five books and 14 encyclicals - papal documents addressed to believers.
“Crossing the Threshold of Hope,” Dad’s most popular book, sold 20 million copies.
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"Memory and Identity" John Paul II's last book was published shortly before his hospitalization.
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Illness and death
In the mid-1990s, John Paul II's health began to deteriorate. In 1992, a tumor in his intestine was removed. On April 29, 1994, he fell and slipped in the bathroom and broke his hip. From that time on, he began to suffer from Parkinson's disease. Despite his physical weakness, he continued to travel abroad.
In February 2005, dad was hospitalized with acute laryngotracheitis and had a tracheotomy. But even after leaving the hospital, he was unable to take part in Holy Week services and was unable to utter a word during the traditional address to the faithful after Easter Mass.
He died on the evening of April 2, 2005 from septic shock and cardiovascular collapse.
Immediately after the pope's death, Catholics around the world began calling on the Vatican to declare him a saint. Benedict XVI began the process of his beatification, ignoring the rule that at least five years must pass from the date of death of a person.
