Pope St. John Paul The Great
On The Grapevine 13
On May 12, 1981, Pope John Paul II visited the Vatican medical center, adding a blessing for the first person to ride in their new ambulance. He was shot the next day and was the first person to use the ambulance, receiving his own blessing. He was shot four times and lost substantial blood, but the bullets just barely missed his major arteries, and he survived. He said that one hand fired the gun, but another hand, a mother's hand, guided the bullets. He forgave the would-be assassin and visited him in jail.
Pope John Paul II was born in Poland on May 18,1920. He lived through Nazi and Soviet persecution, fostered devotion to St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy, and stood up against communism. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, traveled more than any other pope, and called for the new evangelization and world youth days. He worked tirelessly for evangelization and catechism. Theology of the Body is perhaps his most well known written work. Pope John Paul II died on April 2nd, 2005, shortly after receiving communion at the vigil mass for Divine Mercy Sunday. You can read more about him HERE.
-Meagan
Pope John Paul II was born in Poland on May 18,1920. He lived through Nazi and Soviet persecution, fostered devotion to St. Faustina and the Divine Mercy, and stood up against communism. He was the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, traveled more than any other pope, and called for the new evangelization and world youth days. He worked tirelessly for evangelization and catechism. Theology of the Body is perhaps his most well known written work. Pope John Paul II died on April 2nd, 2005, shortly after receiving communion at the vigil mass for Divine Mercy Sunday. You can read more about him HERE.
-Meagan