Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II (Pope St John Paul II). Eph.3 :14-21; Luke 12:49-53
Born Karol Józef Wojtyła, Pope John Paul II lived from May 1920 – 2 April 2005. He was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State – from 1978 to 2005. Ordained to the Catholic Priesthood in 1946; he became the Auxiliary Bishop of Krakow in 1958; was made a Cardinal in 1967; and was elected Pope by the college of Cardinals in 1978. After his death in 2005, he was beatified in 2011, and canonized by Pope Francis in 2014.
Today (Oct. 22), we celebrate the feast day of this simple, yet extraordinary man, who at the time of his death, was one of the most travelled world leaders in history, having visited 129 countries during his pontificate. He came to Nigeria twice, in 1982 and in 1998. He had also beatified 1,340 and canonised 483 people, which is more than the combined tally of those of all the Popes before him during the preceding five centuries. In the life of Pope St John Paul II, we see one who gave his all to God. He lived true to his motto, Totus Tuus. Pope John Paul II, like Jesus Christ, was a sign of contradiction. His humility, compassion, and passion for the truth, did bring divisions in many quarters, but for the greater good.
God bless your day ahead! Pope St John Paul II, pray for us.
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