Apr 27, 2014

Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernizing Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonization on Sunday morning.

: Bishops attend the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and Jean-Paul II led by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: Catholic faithful celebrate the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II in the hometown of Karol Wojtyla, who later become Pope John Paul II, in Wadowice April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Michal Lepecki/Agencja Gazeta)

: Yellow and white balloons are released as Catholic faithful celebrate the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II in the hometown of Karol Wojtyla, who later become Pope John Paul II, in Wadowice April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Michal Lepecki/Agencja Gazeta)

: Catholic faithful celebrate the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II in the hometown of Karol Wojtyla, who later become Pope John Paul II, in Wadowice April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Michal Lepecki/Agencja Gazeta)

: Faithful sleep on the ground before the start of the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and Jean-Paul II led by Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: Pope Emeritus Benedict arrives for Mass before the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: Pope Francis leaves on the Popemobile at the end of the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and Jean-Paul II at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: Catholic faithful watch the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II on a giant screen near the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, where Karol Wojtyla was archbishop before becoming Pope John Paul II, in Krakow April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Mateusz Skwarczek/Agencja Gazeta)

: Catholic faithful watch the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II on a giant screen near the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, where Karol Wojtyla was archbishop before becoming Pope John Paul II, in Krakow April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Mateusz Skwarczek/Agencja Gazeta)

: Catholic faithful carry Vatican flags as they ride to Krzeptowki shrine to celebrate the canonisation of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II, near Zakopane April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Marek Podmokly/Agencja Gazeta)

: A faithful gets the communion as Pope Francis leads the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and Jean-Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: A woman touches a sculpture of Pope John Paul II in Oviedo, northern Spain April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters)

: A woman and two children pray in front of a sculpture of Pope John Paul II in Oviedo, northern Spain April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims in the Vatican on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Eloy Alonso/Reuters)

: A devotee carries a relic of Pope John Paul II during a live broadcast of the canonisation ceremony of John XXIII and John Paul II, followed by a Mass celebration in Manila April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints in front of more than half a million pilgrims on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. (Romeo Ranoco/Reuters)

: The message “We love our Popes” is seen on an inflatable cushion carried in St. Peter’s Square after the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Giampiero Sposito/Reuters)

: Pope Francis greets the faithful as he rides in his Popemobile after the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

: Pope Francis greets the faithful as he rides in his Popemobile after the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Tony Gentile/Reuters)

: Pope Francis adjusts his skullcap as he rides in his Popemobile after the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: Pilgrims gather to celebrate the canonisation of Pope John Paul II near Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, will be declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. Picture taken through a glass window. (Filip Klimaszewski/Reuters)

: A general view shows St. Peter’s Square during the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Max Rossi/Reuters)

: A Catholic faithful raises an image of Pope John Paul II through the crowds waiting to attend the canonisation ceremony of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, will be declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Remo Casilli/Reuters)

: A nun walks past statues on the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square before a canonisation ceremony at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to 1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, will be declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Dignitaries including Spain’s King Carlos and Queen Sofia and Belgium’s King Albert II and Queen Paola meet Pope Francis after the canonisation ceremony at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

: Former Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of a canonisation Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims celebrating two 20th century giants of the Roman Catholic Church. (Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

: A tapestry portrait of Pope John Paul II hanging from the facade of St Peter’s Basilica is seen across the colonnade roof during the canonisation ceremony at the Vatican, April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, were declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: Bishops attend a canonisation Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims celebrating two 20th century giants of the Roman Catholic Church. (Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

: A boy wearing a Pope’s cassock yawns before the start of a parade in Quezon city, Metro Manila April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, will be declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)

: A boy clasps his hands next to a statue of Pope John Paul II at an exhibit of Pope’s relics in Quezon city, Metro Manila April 27, 2014. Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958 to1963 and called the modernising Second Vatican Council, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned for nearly 27 years before his death in 2005 and whose trips around the world made him the most visible pope in history, will be declared saints by Pope Francis at an unprecedented twin canonisation on Sunday. (Erik De Castro/Reuters)

: Pilgrims celebrate the canonisation of Pope John Paul II near the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday in front of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims celebrating two 20th century giants of the Roman Catholic Church. (Filip Klimaszewski/Reuters)

: Pictures of Pope John Paul II are seen for sale during celebrations marking his canonisation along with his predecessor Pope John XXIII in the hometown of Karol Wojtyla, who later become Pope John Paul II, in Wadowice April 27, 2014. Pope Francis proclaimed his predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II saints on Sunday, hailing both as courageous men who withstood the tragedies of the 20th century. Souvenir shops in Poland do a brisk trade in papal memorabilia now that he is due to be declared a saint. In one store in a southern Polish city, a saleswoman says she has sold several thousand candles with an image of the late pope on them, at prices from 12 zlotys ($3.95) on up. (Michal Lepecki /Agencja Gazeta)

One Comment

cosmostheinlost
Apr 27, 2014 @ 22:19:54

Here is an appreciation of the immense legacy of JP2 from another Polish Nobel winner:

http://cosmostheinlost.com/2014/04/27/czeslaw-milosz-jp2/

Pope Francis canonizes predecessors John XXIII and John Paul II

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