SOCIETASDOCTRINÆCHRISTIANÆ

† The word of God was made flesh

His Holiness

Pope John Paul II

His lifeHis legacy

A MAN FROM A FAR COUNTRY

Born in 1920 at Wadowice, near Krakow, Poland

Poland of Karol’s time

C Z E C H O S L O V A K I A

S O

V I E

T U

N I O

N

GE

RM

AN

Y

POLAND

BALTIC SEA

PomeranianBay

Gulf ofDanzig

Warsaw

Bialystok

Lodz

Wroclaw Lublin

Katowice

Cracow

Bydogoszcz

Czestochowa

Gdansk

N

CitiesandTowns 500,000 to 1,000,000

Capital

150,000 to 500,000

Poland0 20 40 80 KM.

0 20 40 80 MI.

FAMILY

Mother – Emily Father – Karol Named Karol One older brother Edmund

Childhood

Attended the elementary school. Lost mother at age 9 Lost brother in 1932 Attended “Marcin Wadowita” secondary school

Early life

Keen on Sports Football and Skiing

Avid theatre lover Considered becoming an actor

Worker

1940 - Earns a living and avoids deportation and imprisonment, as a stone cutter in quarry at Zakrzówek, Kraków.

1942 - Transferred to Solvay chemical plant

Studies and formation

1938 - Enrolls in the Faculty of Philosophy (course of Polish Philosophy) at Jagellonian University, Kraków. Studied Theology, partly in hiding during Nazi occupation during World War II. Ordained a priest at 26 in 1946.

Karol woytla the priest

1949 - assistant pastor at St. Florian's parish, Krakow. Chaplain to the university students(in St. Florian's) and for health workers. 1956 - Appointed to the Chair of Ethics at the Catholic University of Lublin.

Karol woJtyla the bishop

1958 - Ordained Bishop in the Cathedral of Wavel. 1964 - Appointed as Archbishop of Krakow 1967 - Appointed Cardinal by Pope Paul VI in Rome Takes part in many synods and conferences, gives lectures, pastoral visits to several countries.

A man from a far country

Chosen to be Pope in October 1978 following the death of John Paul I.

Took name John Paul II

First impact

His first message remained constantly clear ‘Do not be afraid…Open your hearts wide to Jesus’

Chose Mary as the guardian of his pontificate: ‘TOTUS TUUS’

LEADING THE CHURCH

Taking and looking for opportunities to preach the Gospel and explain the Church’s teaching on any topic. Liturgies on many

special occasions. Weekly audiences on Wednesdays. Writings Travelling

jOURNEYS

In January 1979 John Paul made his first journey as pope. During his papacy hemade 102 journeys and visited 129 countries

WRITINGS

1979 - Wrote his first Encyclical letter ‘Redemptor Hominis’. John Paul published: 14 Encyclicals

Apostolic letters Books

A HITMAN FORGIVEN

3 bullets fired by Turk Mehmed Ali Agca hit the Holy Father from close range. (13 May 1981) Pope is severely injured but following intense and immediate hospital treatment he survives. Forgives hitman and later visits him in prison.

A man of unity

Worked hard for Ecumenism and good relations between peoples of different Faiths.

1986 - Visited Synagogue in Rome. Invited 60 representatives of other faiths to Assisi for a World Day of prayer for peace. 2000 – Visited Wailing wall in Jerusalem. 2001 – Visited Mosque in Syria.

ILL HEALTH

John Paul’s last years weremarked by increasing health problems. Tumour removed

(1992) Dislocated Shoulder (1993) Broken femur (1994) Appendix removed (1996) Parkinson’s disease for several years

LAST DAYS

Early in 2005 the pope suffers from serious breathing problems and flu and is admitted to hospital twice. Passed away on 2nd April 2005 aged 84 years. Third-longest serving

pope in Church history.

FAREWELL

The world mournedPope John Paul. Millions paid him respects by visiting him laying in state in St Peter’s Basilica. Funeral:

8th April 2005

HIS LEGACY

Proclaim the Gospel by any means Dignity of the Human Being Devotion to Our Lady Faith in young

people A suffering servant Work towards unity

Prayer

O GodYou reward people who do good.Make that your servant John Paul whom you chose as the leader of your Church on earth may enter and rejoice for ever with you and the saints in heaven.

SOCIETASDOCTRINÆCHRISTIANÆ

† The word of God was made flesh