Today, 2 April, marks the 17th anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II. He died at 9:37 p.m. in the Vatican.
Today, on the occasion of this anniversary, the visit of St John Paul II to Ukraine is remembered. The Pope visited the country in 2001.
“He was born on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, the youngest of three children. Although he was born into a loving family, his early life was marked by suffering and loss. His older sister, Olga, died in infancy and, by the time Karol was twelve, his mother Emelia had died of kidney failure and his older brother, Edmund, had died heroically serving those stricken with scarlet fever. Known to his friends as Lolek, and growing under the loving guidance of his father, he was a vibrant youth, athletic, studious and a gifted theatrical performer,” we can read on the website dedicated to John Paul II.
“The Holy Father has come to us as an apostle of peace and reconciliation,” Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki recalls, Vice President of the Bishops’ Conference of Ukraine.
Today marks the 17th anniversary of the death of John Paul II?️.
?️ As a catalyst for the Solidarity revolution in Poland, the ?? Pope contributed to the collapse of communist rule in Europe.
Throughout his papacy he was a beacon of hope and trust, even in the toughest times. pic.twitter.com/fceU4kbqIr
— Poland.pl (@Poland) April 2, 2022
On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II died. His 27-year papacy was the 2nd longest in history. During his pontificate, he showed what is best in us.
In 2001, during his visit to Ukraine, he thanked the Ukrainians for defending Europe in the heroic struggle against the invaders ???? pic.twitter.com/zTKGtDXhEx— Arkady Rzegocki ?? (@ArkadyRzegocki) April 2, 2022
Today is the 17th anniversary of the death of St. John Paul II.
„No more war! It is peace, peace must guide the fate of nations and all humanity” pic.twitter.com/LyxUZc0ntP
— Poland in the EU (@PLPermRepEU) April 2, 2022