Poland’s Roman Catholics are on Sunday marking Papal Day, an annual celebration that focuses on remembering and exploring the teachings of John Paul II, who was declared a saint less than a decade after his death.
This year’s Papal Day is being observed for the 20th time under the motto of Totus Tuus (All Yours), in reference to John Paul II’s apostolic credo reflecting his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the Warsaw-based Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia (Work of the New Millennium) Foundation, which organizes the event.
Celebrations have included Masses at Warsaw’s Holy Cross Basilica and Temple of Divine Providence and a service at a shrine named after the Polish-born pope in the southern city of Kraków.
A high-profile music concert was also scheduled for later in the day.
Papal Day is celebrated every year on the Sunday preceding the date Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected to the papacy and became Pope John Paul II.
John Paul II served as pope from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005.
He was the third longest-serving pontiff in history and was declared a saint in 2014.
Polish President Andrzej Duda said earlier this year that John Paul II was a “pope of freedom and solidarity” and one of the most important figures of the 20th century.
US President Donald Trump last year hailed the Polish-born pope as “a champion for human dignity and religious liberty” and said that the pontiff’s 1979 trip to his native Poland "helped tear down the Iron Curtain of communism in Europe."
(gs)
Source: IAR, dzielo.pl