The Culture and Art Foundation, in cooperation with the Polish and Slavic Center, is implementing a project that will emphasize the significance of the historical pontificate of John Paul II
A Project Dedicated to the Memory of John Paul II
The year 2025 will mark the 105th anniversary of the birth and 20th anniversary of the death of the great Pole, St. John Paul II. The Pope’s legacy is timeless. His historic pontificate changed the face of Poland, the Church and the world. The Holy Father’s pilgrimages to his homeland changed the course of history, influencing the overthrow of the communist dictatorship. The Pope visited 129 countries on all continents. He was greeted by crowds everywhere. No other person in the world has seen so many people praying, crying, laughing and cheering in his honor. For 26 years of his pontificate, the Holy Father worked tirelessly in defense of freedom and human dignity. He was the first Pope in the history of the church to visit a Lutheran church (1983), a synagogue (1986) and a mosque (2000). In Assisi in 1986 and 2002, he led a meeting of representatives of all the most important religions of the world. The meeting was attended by representatives of Christian and non-Christian religions, all gathered to ask together for the gift of peace for the whole world. John Paul II was the first Pope to visit the White House and made seven apostolic visits to the United States. President Ronald Reagan found in the Polish Pope a valued ally in the fight for freedom. In June 2004, President George W. Bush honored JP2 with an extraordinary civilian distinction, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. John Paul II gathered millions of young Catholics around him, in 1985 he established World Youth Day, which became the largest mass, regular celebrations with his participation. The Holy Father was a great pride and spiritual guide for the Polish community. He always emphasized the contribution of the Polish community to the promotion of Polish culture and its determination to build a spiritual identity, the foundation of which is the Polish national heritage. Despite the passage of time, the figure of John Paul II is still present in the hearts of millions of people around the world, and in the face of ongoing wars, the Holy Father’s message about the right to freedom and dialogue is still relevant.
The Culture and Art Foundation, in cooperation with the Polish and Slavic Center, is implementing a project that will emphasize the significance of the historical pontificate of the Holy Father. The project will include concerts with the participation of outstanding artists, including soloists of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The program includes F. Schubert’s Ave Maria, a song of the Marian cult and Mary, to whom John Paul II entrusted his life, W.A. Mozart’s Panis Angelicus and Laudate Dominum, J. Massenet’s Meditation from the Opera Thais, opera arias and pieces by Polish composers containing a patriotic charge. An interesting feature will be a specially produced educational film with little-known photos and episodes from the life of John Paul II, including archival materials from JP2’s pilgrimages to the United States. An exhibition is also planned, in January 2025 a “Papal Competition” will be announced for children and school youth in three categories: Portrait of JP2 “Painted with the Heart”, Polish Poems for the Holy Father, Polish Songs for the Holy Father. The competition will culminate in a “Papal Evening” at the Polish and Slavic Center.
The project refers to the timeless values of the Pontificate of JP2, contributing to building collective memory, promoting national values, and creating a positive image of Poland on the international stage. The event is carried out in cooperation with organizations that promote the thought of John Paul II and commemorate his person and pontificate, including the John Paul II Foundation in Rome.