On October 16, 2023, on the 45th anniversary of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to the Holy Seethe, a group of Poles got together for a Holy Mass next to the grave of Saint John Paul II in St. Peter Basilica. The celebration was organized by the John Paul II Foundation and the Ambassador, Adam Kwiatkowski, was our guest of honor.
The Mass was presided by Archbishop Marek Jedraszewski, Metropolitan of Cracow and Director of the Foundation, who also said the sermon. The Mass was co-celebrated by Father Bishop Grzegorz Kaszak, bishop of Sosnowiec; Father Prelate Pawel Ptasznik, Director of the Administrative Council of the JPII Foundation; Father Prelate Dariusz Giers, Administrator of the Foundation; Father Mateusz Wojcik, Director of the John Paul II Polish House in Rome; and 30 more priests from the Vatican, Rome, and Poland..
Archbishop Jedraszewski reminded us that 45 years ago, a first non-Italian pope was elected—in the 455 years of Vatican’s history. He had been also the first pope from behind the Iron Curtain. These facts had been a shock in those times. In St. Peter Square, the news had been received with enthusiasm and surprise.
“I was a witness and participant to these news in Rome,” said Archbishop Jedraszewski.” He finished the sermon with these words, “45 years ago, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla became our ‘Saint’—the Saint Father or Santo Padre… but since 2014, he is a saint of the Catholic Church. The inscription on His grave reads: ‘Sanctus Joannes Paulus pp. II’ . . . Today, we gather next to His tomb thanking God for His life, thanking God for giving Him to Poland, to the Catholic Church, to the Church in Poland, and to the whole world. We go back to the Testament that He left us: ’Open the doors wide to receive Christ.’”
During our praying, these were our intentions:
- For God’s blessing for the JPII Foundation, which we had received from Him as a gift and as an obligation.
- For all the Members, Friends, and Benefactors of the Foundation, so that God may bless them and surround them and their families with His shield against evil, so that they can fulfill their obligation in transmitting the teachings of Saint John Paul II to future generations.
- For the Youth, whom the Polish Pope called, “my hope and the future of this world.’ Especially for the students with scholarships of the JPII Foundation, so that they can be enriched spiritually and culturally thanks to their numerous benefactors.
- For all the people engaged in the goals of JPII Foundation, so that God may reward them with His blessings through the mediation of our Polish Pope.
- For the people in pain and suffering, so that the merciful God may heal them and fortify them, and that Saint John Paul II, through his own strength in suffering, may help them carry their crosses.
- For all the deceased directors, members, friends, and benefactors of JPII Foundation, as well as for the priests and nuns, so that God may keep them under His wing.
- For peace in this world and for the friendship among nations—lets pray the Rosary, our Pope’s favorite prayer.
We thank all the participants of the Mass, celebrated next to the grave of our Holy Patron, and all those who could not be present with us, but joined us spiritually. We ask our Polish Pope to intervene for us to Christ, and may God bless you all!
