The annual meeting of the Administrative Board of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation has concluded in Rome. This institution, which has been operating under the Holy See for over 43 years, aims to increase its activity in several important areas. The meeting, led by Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik, was attended by all members of the Administrative Council: Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, and Bishop Sławomir Oder, as well as clergy and laypersons from the United States, France, Germany, and Poland. After two days of deliberations, the Foundation made significant decisions.
“The John Paul II Vatican Foundation is a practical realization of the testament of the Polish Pope,” said Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, member of the Administrative Council and secretary of Saint John Paul II. “Here in the Vatican, thanks to the generosity of donors, it has been accomplishing many good deeds for students, for pilgrims, and for science and culture area through the Center for Documenation and Research of the Pontificate. Efficient management of so many activities requires proper administration, which is why, as the Foundation’s board, we must meet and set new directions for our Foundation, considering current challenges. Our annual meetings last for two days, and members of the Administrative Council come from Poland, France, Germany, and the United States,” added the former Archbishop of Krakow.
Day One – February 4th
The meeting began with a Eucharist at the tomb of Saint John Paul II on Tuesday, February 4th, after which the two-day session was opened at the Church of Saint Stanislaus B&M in Rome. First, directors of all five units operated by the Foundation presented their reports and plans for the next year of work: Fr. Jan Strzałka (Student House in Lublin), Fr. Mateusz Wójcik (Pilgrim House in Rome), Fr. Prof. Andrzej Dobrzyński (Center for Documenation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome), Msgr. Dariusz Giers (Administrative Secretariat), and Fr. Tomasz Podlewski (Media and Events Office).
The first part of Tuesday’s session ended with a lecture on the perception of Saint John Paul II by contemporary youth, given by Fr. Paweł Rytel-Andrianik from Vatican Radio. Following the lecture, the Administrative Council was presented with a promotional film about the Foundation, prepared in cooperation with the Catholic University of Lublin.
In the afternoon, the Administrative Council members first focused on the issue of relocating the Center for Documenation and Research of the Pontificate to the center of Rome. The current location of such an important scientific and cultural unit on the outskirts of the city is becoming an increasing challenge in the face of growing interest from international academic circles. Next, they addressed the renovation of the Pilgrim House (Casa Giovanni Paolo II, Via Cassia 1200), managed by the Foundation. The first day of the session ended with the Audit Committee’s report.
Day Two – February 5th
The following day, after approving the minutes of the previous meeting, the Administrative Council moved on to discuss and vote on each of the previously presented reports and plans of the respective directors. The second part of the day was devoted to the directions of the Foundation’s development, new forms of activity, media challenges, and scholarship programs, which are one of the institution’s main statutory goals. The discussions and votes resulted in important decisions for the future.
Board Decisions and New Directions of Activity
Regarding the specific decisions made by the Administrative Council during this year’s meeting in Rome, it is worth noting that the John Paul II Vatican Foundation will not only maintain the number of its scholarship recipients next year but has also decided to increase scholarship amounts for students at the Catholic University of Lublin and the John Paul II Pontifical University in Krakow.
“Furthermore, keeping in mind that students have been one of the Foundation’s primary concerns from the very beginning, we have also decided to renovate the Student House in Lublin (Poland), operated by our Foundation,” confirms the Chairman of the Administrative Council, Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik.
In recent years, the location of the Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome, operated by the Foundation, has become an increasingly important issue. The Center, directed by Fr. Prof. Andrzej Dobrzyński for over a decade received the Totus Tuus Award last year for his hard and professional scientific work. The Center has been located several kilometers from the center of Rome since its inception. Due to the dynamic development of the institution in recent years, increased interest in its collections, and its growing importance on the international stage, its location on the outskirts of the city has posed various challenges, prompting thorough reflection on the potential relocation.
“During this year’s meeting of the Administrative Council, in response to the growing engagement of the academic and cultural world in discovering and developing the legacy of the Polish Pope, the John Paul II Vatican Foundation decided to relocate the Center for Documentaion and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II to Palazzo Cairoli, situated in the very heart of the Eternal City (Piazza Benedetto Cairoli),” summarizes Bishop Sławomir Oder from Gliwice, the postulator of the beatification process of St. John Paul II and a member of the Administrative Council.
This will be the first relocation in the history of this institution, which belongs to the world’s leading centers of scientific research associated with the development of John Paul II’s thought.
“We want to commemorate St. John Paul II also in Rome, which is why we believe that the Foundation’s main institution, the Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate, should not be on the outskirts but in the very center, to be easily accessible to students, pilgrims, and scholars,” adds lawyer Marek Markiewicz, a member of the Administrative Council.
“In addition, the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, not wanting to stop at merely changing the location of the Center, aims to make its collections available to new young researchers and create a space in the new premises for scientific meetings and activities that further promote and develop John Paul II’s teachings,” emphasizes another member of the Administrative Council, Fr. Tomasz Szopa, rector of the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II in Krakow.
Hence, even broader internationalization of the institution’s activities, close cooperation with universities in Rome, strengthening cooperation with the John Paul II Institute of Culture at Angelicum, and ultimately, new forms of internship and scholarship programs are planned.
Another significant issue is the decision to begin concrete preparations for a thorough renovation of the Pilgrim House (The John Paul II House) in Rome (Via Cassia, 1200), managed by the Foundation. The house is visited annually by over 5,000 pilgrims.
The John Paul II Vatican Foundation has also decided to award its established St. John Paul II Prize (Premio San Giovanni Paolo II) not every two years (as initially planned), but annually. The first edition took place in May 2024, with the John Paul II Justice and Peace Center in Uganda as the recipient. The International Prize Committee is chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch. The ceremonial gala for this year’s edition will take place on May 22, 2025, in the Vatican.
Regarding the St. John Paul II Days held at the Pontifical Universities in Rome since last year, the John Paul II Vatican Foundation will expand the number of universities co-organizing the event in the Eternal City.
“Last year, the initiative took place at three universities: Angelicum, Santa Croce, and the Gregorian University. This year, the Foundation will invite several more universities in Rome to participate. The event will be held in the last week of November,” announces Mons. Ptasznik.
The John Paul II Vatican Foundation has also decided to officially establish a press office within its structure. With the consent of the Holy See, the new Statute of the Foundation includes a unit called the Media and Events Office. The Foundation has entrusted it with the following areas of activity: media relations, engaging young audiences, supporting other branches of the Foundation, international cooperation, creating new initiatives, and organizing and handling events it organizes. The task of organizing and running the press office has been entrusted by the Foundation to Fr. Tomasz Podlewski from the Archdiocese of Częstochowa (PhD in media studies and a graduate of the first edition of JP2 Studies at Angelicum in Rome).
During this year’s meeting, it was also decided to establish new Friends of the Foundation Circles in Germany, Poland, and Italy. Additionally, the institution will activate the works of its Circles in the United States, England, France, and Indonesia this year.
What is the John Paul II Vatican Foundation?
The John Paul II Vatican Foundation is a church non-profit organization with its official seat in the Vatican. It was established on October 16, 1981, by a papal decree of John Paul II. The Foundation undertakes numerous religious, scientific, cultural, and charitable initiatives, which primarily include:
- Popularizing and developing John Paul II’s teachings,
- Awarding academic scholarships,
- Taking care of pilgrims arriving in Rome,
- Supporting the formation of laypersons and clergy (especially students),
- Cooperating with international scientific and religious institutions and papal universities,
- Integrating environments involved in popularizing and developing the teachings of the Polish Pope,
- Providing various kinds of support for projects related to John Paul II’s legacy.
The Foundation achieves its goals through five units:
- The Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome,
- The Pilgrim House (The John Paul II House) in Rome,
- The Student House (John Paul II Vatican Foundation House for Students) in Lublin,
- The Administrative Secretariat,
- The Media and Events Office.
Support for Students and Pilgrims
The Foundation’s efforts to support youth, academic communities, and Roman pilgrims are particularly noteworthy. It closely cooperates with the Catholic University of Lublin and the John Paul II Papal University in Krakow. The Student House in Lublin, operated by the Foundation, accommodates over 100 residents. For many years, the Foundation has awarded over 150 scholarships annually to students from Central and Eastern European countries and the former Eastern Bloc (including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia). Through the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, over 1,100 graduates and more than 20 PhD holders have completed their education, and the Foundation’s scholars include dozens of clergy and consecrated persons, including three bishops from Eastern Europe and Asia. Annually, over 5,000 pilgrims visit the John Paul II House in Rome.
How the Foundation is Supported
The realization of so many initiatives is possible thanks to the support of good-hearted people. As a non-profit organization, the Foundation has been maintained from the beginning through donations from the individual donors worldwide. Significant support comes from the Societies and Circles of Friends of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation, which number in the dozens and operate in North America, South America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
Members of the Administrative Council of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation
The current composition of the Administrative Council of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation was appointed in 2022, and its term will last until 2027. The chairman is Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik, a longtime close collaborator of St. John Paul II. Before Msgr. Ptasznik, the role of chairman was held by Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The current members of the Council are:
- Bishop Sławomir Oder – Bishop of Gliwice, postulator of the beatification processes of John Paul II and his parents,
- Michał Wilkosz from Germany – Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in Germany,
- Tomasz Szopa from Poland – Rector of the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II in Krakow,
- Henryk Rogowski from France – former President of the Federation of Polish Communities in France and former Chairman of the Foundation’s Circle in Paris,
- Marek Markiewicz from Poland – Lawyer,
- Bogdan Chmielewski from the United States – Director of the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union,
- Wojciech Halarewicz from Germany – Vice President of Mazda Motor Europe.
According to the Foundation’s statute, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, the secretary of Pope John Paul II and a special witness to his pontificate, is also a non-term member of the Administrative Council. The higher authority over the John Paul II Vatican Foundation is exercised by the Archbishop of Krakow, currently Marek Jędraszewski. The Foundation has both canonical legal personality and civil legal personality in the Vatican State. On the occasion of its fortieth anniversary (celebrated a year later due to the pandemic), its representatives met with Pope Francis in the Vatican. Next year, the Foundation will celebrate its 45th anniversary.
For more information and photos, please visit the websites and social media profiles of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation:
- x.com, Facebook, Flickr i YouTube @VaticanJP2
- www.fjp2.com
- media@fjp2.com
Media and Events Office of the John Paul II Vatican Foundation
