Best Wishes for the Holy Father (Vatican provides email address for people to send kind words)

The Holy See ^ | February 25, 2005

[Stoat]

I don't know if this has already been posted at FR, (a search of "Best Wishes for the Holy Father" brought no results)but I thought that well-wishers might appreciate an opportunity to send a kind word during a difficult time. Here is the address in case the above link doesn't work:

john_paul_ii@vatican.va

[Stoat]

Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Karol Wojtyla
16.X.1978

giovanni_paolo_ii_biografia_breve_en

       

His Holiness John Paul II

Short Biography

[Updated: 05.01.2005]

---

 

Karol Józef Wojtyła , known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, on May 18, 1920. He was the second of two sons born to Karol Wojtyła and Emilia Kaczorowska. His mother died in 1929. His eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 and his father, a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941.

He made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and was confirmed at 18. Upon graduation from Marcin Wadowita high school in Wadowice, he enrolled in Cracow's Jagiellonian University in 1938 and in a school for drama.

The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany.

In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Cracow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Cracow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyła was one of the pioneers of the "Rhapsodic Theatre," also clandestine.

After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Cracow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University, until his priestly ordination in Cracow on November 1, 1946.

Soon after, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross. At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland.

In 1948 he returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Cracow as well as chaplain for the university students until 1951, when he took up again his studies on philosophy and theology. In 1953 he defended a thesis on "evaluation of the possibility of founding a Catholic ethic on the ethical system of Max Scheler" at Lublin Catholic University. Later he became professor of moral theology and social ethics in the major seminary of Cracow and in the Faculty of Theology of Lublin.

On July 4, 1958, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cracow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, by Archbishop Baziak.

On January 13, 1964, he was nominated Archbishop of Cracow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal June 26, 1967.

Besides taking part in Vatican Council II with an important contribution to the elaboration of the Constitution Gaudium et spes, Cardinal Wojtyła participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops.

Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II has completed 104 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 146 within Italy . As Bishop of Rome he has visited 317 of the 333 parishes .

His principal documents include 14 encyclicals , 15 apostolic exhortations , 11 apostolic constitutions and 44 apostolic letters. The Pope has also published five books : "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" (October 1994); "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" (November 1996); "Roman Triptych - Meditations", a book of poems (March 2003); "Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way" (May 2004) and "Memory and Identity" (pubblication spring 2005).

John Paul II has presided at 147 beatification ceremonies ( 1,338 Blesseds proclaimed ) and 51 canonization ceremonies ( 482 Saints ) during his pontificate. He has held 9 consistories in which he created 231 (+ 1 in pectore) cardinals . He has also convened six plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals .

From 1978 to today the Holy Father has presided at 15 Synods of Bishops : six ordinary (1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 2001), one extraordinary (1985) and eight special (1980, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998[2] and 1999).

No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: to date, more than 17,600,000 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1,160). Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone] and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 737 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State , and even the 245 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers .

[bd476]

Thank you Stoat for posting this. God Bless Pope John Paul II!

[Jaded]

The Pope clearly understands he is on a mission. May the Lord hold him close in his infirmities.

[anonymoussierra]

Thank you"bd476" Information ping Thank you all

[Huntress]

Thanks for posting. I'm not Catholic, but I admire and respect the Pope tremendously.

[onyx]

Thanks for this posting.

[Petronski]

Very nice get well card. Thanks.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks for posting.

[Fred]

The Way of Perfection

[jwalsh07]

God bless Pope John Paul II, He has already blessed us with the Pope's presence here on the third rock.

[Salvation]

BTTT! I missed this!

[Salvation]

Catholic Action Ping!

Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Catholic Action Ping List.

[maryz]

Thanks for the ping!

[Smartass]

Pope John Paul II (1920- ) is said to be the most
recognized person in the world. He is the most traveled
Pope in the 2,000 year history of the Church and speaks
eight languages. Born Karol Joseph Wojtyla (pronounced
Voy-tee-wah) in Wadowice, Poland on May 18, 1920 to an
administrative officer in the Polish army and a former
schoolteacher. In 1978, at the age of 58 the College of
Cardinals elected him to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
He was the first non-italian chosen as Pope in 456 years
and the youngest in this century. At age 61 he suffered
serious wounds during an assassination attempt.

 

[Aliska]

I actually sent him one. Imagine that. Me emailing the vatican. I kept it brief and to the point and no negative anything. I wish him well and to be able to remain with us. He has borne his infirmities with honor, dignity, determination, and humility, setting a good example for people the world over who must deal with same.

[Ciexyz]

Here's wishing Pope John Paul II a speedy recovery.

[bboop]

I emailed him too. I mean, why not. Btw, does anyone have that pix of the Pope holding his hands up to his eyes like a child making a face/ making pretend glasses? It is my favorite one of all, but I cannot find it today.

[Lilllabettt]

[not-alone]

Thank you

[bboop]

That's it, and thanks. Think I'll get a tshirt made ... Isn't it just the most wonderful pose?? hahah.