JP II

Today's the 4th death anniversary of the late Pope John Paul II, he was 84 years old.It was Divine Mercy Sunday 4 years ago on his death day.

A short biography of him:
-Birth name : Karol Józef Wojtyła
-Birth place & date : 18 May 1920/Wadowice, Poland
-Papacy began : 16 October 1978
-Papacy ended : 2 April 2005
-Predecesor : Pope Paul VI
-Successor : Pope Benedict XVI
-Second longest reigning pope(26 years) after Blessed Pope Pius IX(31 years), followed by Pope Leo XIII(25 years)

Among some of his oustanding features of his papacy include his worldwide travels(129 countries) which makes him the most well-travelled pope and his role in the fall of communism in Eastern Europe begining in Poland and spreading throughout Europe and ended up in the fall of the Soviet Union(something like a domino effect, he pushed the first domino tile in Poland). He is also one of the popes who canonized the most number of saints. A great pope indeed, the Catholic Church grew rapidly around the world during his papacy as he also introduced the World Youth Day, a non-denominational Christian event held on an international level every 2-3 years once. He did many other things too, writing many encyclicals and too many other things to list down.

Pope Benedict XVI waived the five years waiting period after his death for the beatification process to begin, stating that this is an exceptional case, that means the process begin not long after his death. Currently he is still at the first stage, thus giving him the title 'Servant of God'. Hopefully he will be given the title 'Venerated', 'Blessed' and finally canonized as a saint soon. Pray for his canonization, then maybe I'll get to make him my patron saint!

Pope John Paul II lying in state during his funeral

~But as it is written: "What eye has not seen, and hear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him." --- 1 Corinthians 2:9~