Saint John Paul II
- Feast
- 22 October
- Patron of
- World Youth Day and families
Karol Wojtyła was born in Wadowice, Poland, in 1920. During the Nazi occupation he worked in a quarry and a chemical plant while studying for the priesthood in secret. He became Archbishop of Kraków, and in 1978 was elected pope, the first non-Italian in more than four centuries. He died in Rome in 2005 and was canonised in 2014.
Over a pontificate of more than twenty-six years he visited well over a hundred countries, survived an assassin's bullets in 1981, and began World Youth Day. "Do not be afraid" was his call at the Mass that opened his papacy, on 22 October 1978, the day now kept as his feast. He is usually shown in white, holding his crucifix staff.
For a young person facing big choices, John Paul II is the saint who told the young not to be afraid. He had lost his mother, brother and father by the age of twenty, and still became a man of great hope.
The print of Saint John Paul II
Questions
When is the feast of Saint John Paul II?
The feast of Saint John Paul II is kept on 22 October.
What is Saint John Paul II the patron saint of?
Saint John Paul II is the patron saint of World Youth Day and families.
Is Saint John Paul II a good confirmation saint?
For a young person facing big choices, John Paul II is the saint who told the young not to be afraid. He had lost his mother, brother and father by the age of twenty, and still became a man of great hope.
Is Saint John Paul II the patron saint of people named John Paul?
Yes. Saint John Paul II is the traditional name saint for anyone called John Paul, and the feast on 22 October is their name day.
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Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours