Eighty years after the priestly ordination of St. John Paul II, those who knew him and scholars who study his legacy say the future pope’s example still offers a model for priests today: deep prayer combined with close accompaniment of others.
St. John Paul II
How Three Popes Prayed and Remembered Following 9/11
On the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the words and gestures of three popes still echo through the grief of that day — from St. John Paul II’s immediate prayers for a shaken nation, to Pope Benedict XVI’s silent visit to ground zero, to Pope Francis’ rose placed at one of the memorial’s reflecting pools.
Plaque From Pope John Paul II’s Historic Aqueduct Mass Rescued From Queens Racetrack
For three decades, visitors to Aqueduct Racetrack, who came to place bets or just to watch thoroughbreds run, passed a bronze plaque commemorating the time the venue was visited by a saint.
45 Years Later, Attempted Assassination of St. John Paul II Recalled as Turning Point in History
Pope Leo XIV prayed beside a plaque in St. Peter’s Square marking the spot where St. John Paul II was shot 45 years ago.
Dalai Lama, Iconic Spiritual Leader Who Has Met Popes and Befriended Presidents, Turns 90
The Dalai Lama’s long history as Tibet’s leader-in-exile has resulted in multiple visits and forged friendships with world leaders, including St. John Paul II.
Queens Catholic Honors Pope Francis, Fights Antisemitism With Pilgrimage on Wheels
Waiting Inside Terminal 7 at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 28, Victor Mooney stood next to a box that held his bicycle. On top were two small rocks, each inscribed with a simple message: “2025, We Remember Now.”
Vestiges of Papal History Remain Throughout St. Mary Church in LIC
A small church in Long Island City serves around 400 people every Sunday from a hidden treasure: liturgical furnishings once touched by a saint.
Florida’s Catholic Bishops Again Urge Desantis To Stay An Execution
Catholic bishops in Florida urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to stay the execution of a death-row prisoner as the governor embarks on a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.
World Youth Day Helps Inspire Young People to Serve Others, Pope Says
World Youth Day is an antidote against indifference, isolation and lethargy, Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis Says He Plans to Visit Argentina Next Year
An Argentine journalist who recently met with Pope Francis has said the pope plans to return to his native country next year, and that the pontiff again came to the defense of his predecessor, St. John Paul II, in light of recent allegations from a former Italian mobster.