Saint Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyła on 18 May 1920 in the Polish town of Wadowice. Over the course of his life, he became an unquestionable spiritual leader who inspired generations of believers. Throughout his priesthood and papacy, he made monumental gestures towards different faiths as the head of the Catholic Church.

The Pope’s 26-years-long pontificate was marked by his greatly influential work on building peace, interfaith and ecumenical dialogue and the reconciliation between science and religion. John Paul II was also committed to supporting the elderly and the vulnerable both through personal contacts and through advocacy. This broadly understood dialogue determined the nature of the Pope’s leadership and shaped the collective image of him among generations.

The Polish Cultural Institute in London together with St. Benet’s Institute at St. Benet’s Hall, Oxford invited a number of renowned individuals​ to share​ their memories of Pope’s life and legacy in different contexts, and celebrate the centenary of John Paul II’s in a series of short videos soon available on a special website and via our social media platforms.

The concept of this endeavour alludes to papal gatherings at Castle Gandolfo where intellectuals from different, sometimes opposing, backgrounds would exchange opinions on contemporary issues and matters. However, today, the figure of John Paul II is the centre of the discussion. If you too wish to honour the legacy of the Polish Pope, use hashtag #JP2Centenary, and your post will be showcased in one of the sections of the website.

Click HERE to access #JP2Centenary website.