Seminarians at St. John Paul II Institute in South Sudan Urged to Embrace Patron Saint’s “charismatic spirit”

“May we continue to be guided by his wisdom and compassion, nurturing our intellectual and spiritual paths as we build a brighter future together,” Bishop Hiiboro said.

St. John Paul II is perhaps one of the most well-known pontiffs in recent history and is most remembered for his charismatic nature, his love of youth and his world travels, along with his role in the fall of communism in Europe during his 27-year papacy.

Karol Józef Wojtyla, known as John Paul II since his October 1978 election to the papacy, was born in the Polish town of Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometers from Krakow, on May 18, 1920. 

In 1942, aware of his call to the Priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Krakow. 

After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Krakow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University. He was ordained to the Priesthood by Archbishop Sapieha in Krakow on November 1, 1946.

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In July 1958, he was appointed titular Bishop of Ombi and Auxiliary of Krakow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated in September 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, by Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak.

On 13 January 1964, he was appointed Archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a Cardinal in June 1967 with the title of S. Cesareo in Palatio of the order of deacons, later elevated pro illa vice to the order of Priests.

The Cardinals elected him Pope at the Conclave of October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His Pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.