OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II

On October 22, 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, was installed as the 264th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.  In his homily on that day, Pope John Paul II said, “Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid to welcome Christ and accept his power. Help the Pope and all those who wish to serve Christ and with Christ’s power to serve the human person and the whole of mankind. Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows what is in [the human person.”] He alone knows it…He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life.”

Pope John Paul II served as Universal Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church for nearly twenty-six and a half years, the second longest reigning Pope after Saint Pope Pius IX, who served for 31 1/2 years.

Pope John Paul II was named Saint Pope John Paul II by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014.

Father Bill +