Pope John Paul II.: A life between faith and politics

Pope John Paul II is considered one of the central figures of the Catholic Church of the 20th century. Born on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, he grew up in a deep -believing family, but had to experience the loss of his mother and a brother early on. His life was strongly shaped by the examination of the Nazi ideology and communist rule, from which Poland suffered.

1946 he was ordained a priest before he was appointed Bishop of Krakow in 1958. His participation in the second Vatican and the survey to the cardinal in 1967 fell into the time of his ascent within the church. In 1978 he was the first pole to be elected Pope. A striking event in his pontificate was the assassination attempt on him in 1981, which he survived seriously injured. He saw his rescue as a miracle of the Madonna of Fatima.

a committed Pope

Johannes Paul II was known for his travels and contact with the peoples. In particular, his visits to Poland contributed significantly to the end of the communist rule in the Eastern Bloc. He also acted actively for reconciliation with Judaism and organized the first multi -religious world prayer meeting for peace in Assisi in 1986. Furthermore, 1985 was the first World Youth Day in Rome, which heralded a new era of youth pastoral.

Although he suffered from Parkinson's from 2002, he remained tirelessly in his task. John Paul II died on April 2, 2005 in Rome. His theology of the body, which he developed between 1979 and 1984, emphasizes the unity of body and soul as well as the identity of the sexes and emphasized the importance of marriage and family.

his papal motto "Totus Tuus" reflects his deep veneration for Maria, which is also evident in his publications, such as the encyclical "Redemptoris Mater" and around 70 Marian catechies. He put the dignity and calling of the woman in the church in the foreground and saw both the celibacy of the priests and the sacrament of marriage as essential.

the rosary and its meaning

The rosary of the Virgin Mary, who developed in the second millennium, is of great importance for many holy and is promoted by the teaching of the Church. Pope John Paul II frequently prayed the rosary and experienced it as a consolation in difficult times. In an apostolic script, he declared the period from October 2002 to October 2003 to promote its importance in the Christian communities.

The rosary is described as a form of Christian meditation that invites believers to consider the mysteries of life of Christ. John Paul II concluded with the call to rediscover the rosary as a valuable prayer and to integrate into daily life, which should strengthen the family unity.

his considerations also included the expansion of traditional secrets by the “light mysteries” that emphasize the public mission of Jesus. These various secrets that examine the life of Christ are intended to deepen the relationship with Christ and Maria and to promote their own spirituality.

For more information about John Paul II and the Rosary, see the articles by Bishopric of Regensburg and the official Vatican.