Saint John Paul II
Saint Profile
Saint John Paul II was born in Poland in 1920. In his early years, he endured the sorrow of losing all of his immediate family, and in his youth he lived through the Second World War and the oppression of Nazi occupation. Amid these trials of his time, he nurtured his priestly vocation in an underground seminary and was ordained a priest in 1946. He later served as Auxiliary Bishop and Archbishop of Kraków, and took part in the Second Vatican Council, contributing to the Church’s path of renewal and dialogue in the modern world. Elected the 264th Pope in 1978, he proclaimed the Gospel through pastoral visits to 129 countries and, in 1984, founded World Youth Day, inviting young people from across the globe to become one in faith. In particular, after surviving an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square in 1981, he testified that he had been protected by the maternal hand of Our Lady and went on to forgive his attacker, leaving a profound witness to Christian mercy and reconciliation. He died in 2005, was canonized in 2014, and the Church celebrates his feast day on October 22.
Symbol: Crozier
The crozier is one of the liturgical insignia of a bishop, symbolizing the office of the Good Shepherd, who protects, cares for, and guides the flock entrusted to him by the Holy Spirit. The crozier associated with Saint John Paul II is especially well known for its distinctive cruciform design, and it has become a symbolic sign of the pastoral spirit and mission he embodied.
Prayer
Merciful Lord,
hear the intercession of Saint John Paul II,
who found hope in young people
and called them together in the Church.
Grant that we too may proclaim the joy of the Gospel to the whole world
and help build a world
where the culture of life may flourish.
Amen.
