{"id":815,"date":"2010-05-18T23:34:02","date_gmt":"2010-05-18T23:34:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/?p=815"},"modified":"2010-05-19T00:03:33","modified_gmt":"2010-05-19T00:03:33","slug":"rememberingpopejohnpaulii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/polish\/rememberingpopejohnpaulii\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering a Polish Hero – Pope John Paul II"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201c[I kiss the soil] as if I placed a kiss on the hands of a mother, for the homeland is our earthly mother. I consider it my duty to be with my compatriots in this sublime and difficult moment.\u201d\u00a0 – quotation taken from http:\/\/thinkexist.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On this day in 1920, Karol J\u00f3zef Wojty\u0142a<\/strong> was born in Wadowice, Poland. Poles recognize this name immediately, however, most of the world knew him better as Pope John Paul II (Jan Pawe\u0142 II<\/strong>), the first and only Polish Pope. This man of humble beginnings would mature to be one of the most respected world leaders of the twentieth century. His achievements are countless, and he may reach his greatest glory posthumously if granted sainthood in the Catholic faith.<\/p>\n

Pope John Paul II was a respected writer and an accomplished linguist, knowing thirteen languages. In 1999, in his Papal address on Christmas Day, I witnessed a fragile but determined Pope John Paul deliver his message in six languages. He was applauded by the hoards of pilgrims that surrounded my younger sister and me in St. Peter’s Square that morning, and was motivated with chants in several languages, including his native Polish.<\/p>\n

To provide even a brief synopsis of his lifetime would be a challenge, so I thought I would bullet a handful of fast facts about this great man.<\/p>\n