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Karol Wojtyla born
in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920.
He is the first Pontiff of Polish origin and the first non-Italian
Pope in 455 years, since Hadrian VI.
Theologian, writer and poet, he is a Pope with an itinerant
apostolate. Including his
historic visit to Cuba, he has traveled extensively visiting 100
countries, including those without a Catholic majority.
He has been invited twice, February 3, 1979 and April 10, 1995, to
give speeches at the UN. He has spoken to the Seats of major World Institutions,
including UNESCO, FAO and the European Parliament.
In 1979, he went
to Constantinople to meet with the Orthodox Patriarch Demetrio I.
After a millennial separation, he reconciled with the Jewish
community, on April 13, 1986, with a visit to Rome's Synagogue where he
prayed with the "older brothers" and embraced the rabbi. On January 1, 1986, he went to Assisi to pray for peace
together with the representatives of different religious doctrines from
around the world.
There was an
attempt on his life during a general audience in St. Peter's Square on May
13, 1981.
He has written 11
Encyclicals; the last one, "Evangelium Vitae ", written in 1995,
defends life, speaking out against abortion, euthanasia and the death
penalty. On October 11, 1992, after long consultation and labor with
the world episcopacy, he signed the New Catechism of the Catholic Church,
later translated into every language.
He has nominated dozens of cardinals and, in view of the third
millennium, has summoned numerous bishop synods.
He has acted as a leader in events that have changed the world. On
December 11, 1989, he received Mikhail Gorbachev, then President of USSR. During a trip to Cuba in 1998, he met with Fidel Castro.
Pope John Paul II
officially announced the celebration of the Jubilee for the year 2000 with
his apostolic letter "Tertio Millenio adveniente", dated
November 24, 1994. For the
first time in history, the Papal Bull dated January, 29, 1998 proclaimed
that the Holy Year for the year 2000 would be celebrated contemporaneously
in Rome as well as in the Holy Land, and in local churches. The Holy Doors
at St. Peter's were opened during midnight mass on December 24, 1999 and
the Jubilee ended on January 6, 2001.
Including his trip to Mexico City on January 22,1999, the Pope is
estimated to have traveled a total of over 700,000 miles including
110 international tours, the equivalent of having traveled 28 times
around the world.
Source: The Popes by Memmo Caporilli |
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John
Paul II
1978-2005 The
264th Pope
"The
Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible
principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the
faithful."
Lumen Gentium, 23
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