John Paul II

Yesterday John Paul II became a SAINT






BLESSED JOHN PAUL II




He was born Karol Jozef Wojtyla
On May 18^th, 1920
In Wadowice, the Republic of Poland


He was Pope
Of the Catholic Church
From 1978
Until his death in 2005


He was the second longest
Serving pope in history
And the first
Non-Italian pope since 1523


He was
A very charismatic figure
And acclaimed
As one of the
Most influential leaders of the 20^th century


He was instrumental
In ending communism
Both in Poland
And eventually all of Europe


He was
A widely traveled world leader
And visited 129 countries
During his pontificate


He has
A special emphasis
On a universal call to holiness
Beatified 1.340 people
And canonized 483 saints


Today
He himself-is beatified


He named
Most of the present college of cardinals
Consecrated a large number of bishops
And ordained many priests


A key goal
Of his papacy
Was to transform
And reposition the Catholic Church


His goal was:
“To place his church
At the heart of a new religious alliance
That would bring together Jews, Muslims, and Christians
In a great religious armada”


A man of vision
A legend of our times
Pope John Paul II
Was beatified on May 1st, 2011


Robert P. Wallman
11-10-12