BLOG: canonization Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II is embraced by Cambodian Buddhist monk Maha Ghosananda during an interreligious encounter in Assisi, Italy, Oct. 27, 1986. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) ...read more
Pope John Paul II visits with Mehmet Ali Agca in a Rome prison Dec. 27, 1983. Their meeting came two years after Agca was arrested for shooting the pontiff in St. Peter’s Square. The pope publicly forgave his assailant. In 2000, Italy pardoned Agca and returned him to his homeland, Turkey. (CNS file photo by ...read more
Pope John Paul II is assisted by his personal secretary Msgr. Stanislaw Dziwisz as he slumps in an open Fiat jeep on May 13, 1981 after he was shot and nearly killed by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano) ...read more
Pope John Paul II visits Uganda in February 1993. (CNS photo from L’Osservatore Romano, Arturo Mari) ...read more
Pope John Paul II kisses the hand of the child Jesus on a statue of Mary during a celebration in Cuzco, Peru, Feb. 3, 1985. (CNS photo/Catholic Press Photo) ...read more
Pope John Paul II greets Mother Teresa of Calcutta at the Vatican in an undated file photo. Mother Teresa, the founder of the Missionaries of Charity was beatified by Pope John Paul in 2003. (CNS photo) ...read more
Father Karol Wojtyla is pictured next to bicycles during an outing in Poland in the early 1950s. His strong interest in outdoor activities continued through his years as Pope John Paul II, until the effects of age kept him away from strenuous pursuits.  Pope John Paul together with Pope John XXIII will be declared saints ...read more
Pope John Paul II appears from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election Oct. 16, 1978. The pope, who died April 2, 2005, will be canonized at the Vatican April 27, 2014.(CNS file photo)  ...read more
Mourners hold banners that read “sainthood now” during the funeral Mass for Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 9, 2005. (CNS photo/Reuters) Everyone in the office knows that I love Pope John Paul II. In fact, I have a huge image of him on my desk which I proudly ...read more