On the 6th anniversary of the canonization of John Paul II, from the initiative of the John Paul II Foundation, on Monday, April 27, 2020 at 7.00am in the Basilica of St. Peter at the tomb of St. John Paul II, a Holy Mass was celebrated, presided and a homily was given by Fr. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
Six years ago, on April 27, 2014, two popes were canonized – John Paul II and John XXIII. The ceremony took place on the Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast established by the Polish Pope. In a historic ceremony on the St. Peter’s Square in Rome, more than 800,000 pilgrims from all over the world participated in it. It was an event without precedent – at the same time two Popes were named as saints. In addition, for the first time ever, two Popes – current Pope Francis and among Cardinals – retired Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the canonization mass. Pope Francis announced new saints.
“We declare and define Blessed John XXIII and John Paul II to be saints and we enroll them among the saints, decreeing that they are to be venerated as such by the whole church. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”- he said. In his homily, Pope Francis emphasized that both canonized “were not ashamed of the flesh of Christ, they were not scandalized by Him, by His cross.”
