image

“Be Not Afraid”: Remembering Pope John Paul II, the Saint Who Changed the World

Vatican City, 16 October 2025: Forty-seven years ago today, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and bells pealed across St. Peter’s Square. The cardinals had chosen a new pope, Karol Józef Wojtyła, the 58-year-old Archbishop of Kraków. Taking the name John Paul II, he became the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years, and one of the most influential spiritual leaders of modern times.


Standing before the faithful that evening, he smiled and said, “Be not afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ.” Those words became the mission of his 26-year pontificate, a message of courage and faith that continues to resonate across generations.


Born in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland, Wojtyła grew up amid war, loss and oppression. Having endured Nazi occupation and Communist rule, he brought to the papacy a profound understanding of human suffering and a deep conviction in the power of faith. His early life forged the resilience that would mark his leadership and inspire millions living under tyranny.


John Paul II transformed the papacy into a truly global mission. During his reign, he visited 129 countries, meeting people in churches, slums and stadiums. He reached out to the marginalised, prayed with leaders of other faiths, and even forgave the man who tried to assassinate him in 1981. His pilgrimages broke barriers and built bridges, showing the world a Church unafraid to meet humanity where it stood.


He was also a decisive moral voice in turbulent times. His steadfast support for Poland’s Solidarity movement contributed to the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. Yet his message reached far beyond politics: he defended the dignity of every person, the sanctity of life, and the need for mercy in a divided world.


For young people, he was a beacon of hope. Through World Youth Day, which he founded, he called them to greatness, telling them: “Do not be afraid to be saints of the new millennium.” His authenticity and warmth drew millions, earning him the title “the Pope of the Youth.”


When John Paul II died on 2 April 2005, the world mourned. The cry of “Santo subito!” meaning “Make him a saint now!” filled St Peter’s Square. In 2014, Pope Francis canonised him as Saint John Paul II, recognising a life lived with extraordinary courage and compassion.


Nearly five decades after his election, his words still echo: “Be not afraid.” In a world often paralysed by fear and uncertainty, his legacy endures, calling believers everywhere to faith, forgiveness and the radiant hope of Christ.


'Totus Tuus' meaning 'Totally Yours'. Those two words summed up his life, his love for Mary, and his gift to the world.


St John Paul II, Pray for us.


By Catholic Connect Reporter



Download Catholic Connect App for Daily News Updates: 

Android: Click here to download

iOS: Click here to download

Continue Reading on Catholic Connect App

Get access to exclusive news articles & more.

© 2025 CATHOLIC CONNECT POWERED BY ATCONLINE LLP