In just a few days, the Polish community in Rome will gather in the Vatican to pray together and pay tribute to Saint John Paul II. Two events have been planned, continuing the long-standing tradition of remembering the Polish Pope.
Part One of the Commemoration – October 16: Prayer Vigil at St. Peter’s Square
On Thursday, October 16, at 6:45 p.m., a prayer vigil organized by the Polish community will take place at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. The gathering will mark the 47th anniversary of the election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła to the See of Peter. This year’s vigil will be held under the motto: “Overcome evil with good!”
Poles living in Rome, as well as pilgrims from around the world, are expected to participate. The central prayer intention will be a plea for peace.
“During this anniversary of John Paul II’s election, we will pray the Rosary, asking God for the gift of peace for the world. Our call strongly echoes the message of John Paul II himself, who throughout his pontificate continually reminded the world of the need to build peace,”
said Fr. Paweł Ptasznik, Rector of the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus BM in Rome.
Fr. Ptasznik emphasized that during the vigil, the faithful will pray for all nations afflicted by war and unrest.
“We will pray for lasting peace, for peace for future generations. From the very beginning of his pontificate, Saint John Paul II responded to every manifestation of violence and conflict. He urged world leaders to cease harmful actions, especially against the defenseless and the weak. This was evident, for instance, in 2003, when he firmly opposed the war in Iraq, recalling that, as someone who had lived through World War II, he felt particularly obliged to cry out for peace. That message remains as relevant as ever, perhaps even more urgent today, as bloody conflicts continue in various parts of the world.”
During the vigil, passages from Saint John Paul II’s messages will be read, and the Rosary meditations will be based on his reflections on peace.
“The theme of this year’s gathering will be peace, in accordance with the call of Pope Leo XIII, who urged that October be lived as a month of prayer for world peace,” explained Fr. Tomasz Jarosz, Administrator of the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus BM in Rome.
“For our reflections, we will draw from John Paul II’s final Message for the World Day of Peace, celebrated on January 1, 2005. In that message, the Holy Father referred to the words of St. Paul the Apostle, which were also dear to Blessed Fr. Jerzy Popiełuszko: ‘Overcome evil with good.’”
“At the conclusion of the Rosary, participants will pray for the intentions of Pope Leo XIII, followed by a prayer for peace composed by Saint John Paul II. We warmly invite everyone to join the prayer vigil, both Poles living in Rome and our compatriots visiting the Eternal City as pilgrims or tourists. This is our way of commemorating the events of 47 years ago and a living testimony of our enduring bond with Saint John Paul II,”
added Fr. Jarosz.
The event is organized by the Church and Hospice of St. Stanislaus BM in Rome, in cooperation with the Polish Pastoral Mission at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rome, the Polish Pastoral Mission at St. Nicholas Church in Ostia, and the Vatican John Paul II Foundation.
October 22 – Holy Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica
Another solemn event is scheduled for October 22 at 6:00 p.m. On this day, the Church celebrates the liturgical memorial of Saint John Paul II, marking the anniversary of the inauguration of his pontificate in 1978.
A solemn Holy Mass in Polish will be celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. After the Eucharist, the faithful will proceed to the tomb of Saint John Paul II in the Chapel of St. Sebastian, where they will pray together for world peace using the prayer composed by the Polish Pope himself.
Memory and Prayer
Both events serve as a testimony to the enduring bond between Poles and Saint John Paul II. They also offer an opportunity, in keeping with his message, to unite in prayer and together implore the gift of peace in a troubled world.
Admission to both events is free.