October 22 commemorates Saint John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla, one of the greatest and most beloved popes in history: Why October 22 and not the date of his death (April 2) or that of his birth (May 18)? For his liturgical feast, the Church chose October 22, the day on which, in 1978, he began his Petrine ministry: elected at the age of 58, Wojtyla was one of the youngest men to ascend the throne of Peter.
On October 16, 1978, white smoke rose over St. Peter's Square. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., Karol Wojtyla appeared before the gathered crowd and, contrary to the established ceremonial protocol, delivered a speech of greeting. His first words, after emotionally recalling his predecessor John Paul I, were: “The most eminent cardinals have chosen a new Bishop of Rome… they have chosen him from a faraway country”. With Wojtyla, a non-Italian Pope ascended the papal throne after more than four centuries. 1522, with the election of Adrian VI, was the year of the last election of a non-Italian Pope before John Paul II. But, with his undisputed communication skills, Wojtyla immediately erased the distance: “A faraway country, yes, but always so close through communion in faith and Christian tradition.”
Karol Wojtyla was born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. After being ordained a priest and completing his theological studies in Rome, he traveled to various European cities to carry out his pastoral mission; he later returned to Poland, where he became a Bishop, then Archbishop of Krakow and, finally, a Cardinal (1967); he took part in the Second Vatican Council.
During his pontificate, he distinguished himself through his extraordinary apostolic dedication, particularly to families, young people, and the sick, which led him to make thousands of pastoral visits throughout the world; he left countless gifts to the Church, including his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Codes of Canon Law for the Latin Church and the Eastern Churches. Extremely active within the Church but also open to the outside world, he traveled throughout the world to reach the faithful in every corner of the earth; he addressed important issues and, from the outset, became a spokesperson for the suffering of the men and women of his time. He was not afraid to address political issues openly and took a stand against communism. He worked tirelessly for the unity of the Catholic Church and promoted interreligious dialogue. Traditionalist regarding canon law, he opened the Church to music, concerts, and “controversial” political leaders: his meeting with Fidel Castro remains of historic importance.
Personal suffering marked him from May 13, 1981, when he was the victim of an assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square: he survived despite being shot three times, and the perpetrator, the Turk Ali Ağca, was arrested. The Pope attributed his survival to the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima. Several years later, the Pope met his would-be assassin: the conversation remained private, but Wojtyla publicly forgave him.
Even in the final years of his life, although tired and ill, John Paul II never stopped carrying out his duties and fighting with all his strength for peace: his powerful speech against the Gulf War in 2003 moved the world.
During his long pontificate, he wrote encyclicals and letters considered milestones in the history of the Church. And it was to him that the creation, in 1984, of World Youth Day.
Loved by everyone, and especially by young people, John Paul II died on April 2, 2005. For days, an immense crowd lined up to bid him a final farewell, and “Santo subito” (“A saint immediately”) was the message emblazoned on the signs and banners filling that moved and emotional square. His pontificate lasted 26 years, 5 months, and 17 days: the third longest in the history of the Church.
