St John Paul II

Cruz Ignatius of the Diocese of Darwin reflected on the life and legacy of Pope John Paul II, noting his historical impact as the first non-Italian pope in centuries following his election on October 16, 1978.

Ignatius highlighted the former pope's experience living under Nazi occupation and the Soviet regime in Poland before serving as a bishop and cardinal. During his papacy, John Paul II traveled to most countries on earth, established World Youth Day, and promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He also oversaw the renewal of the Code of Canon Law for both the Western and Eastern Rites.

The reflection noted that John Paul II issued apologies for historical wrongs committed by Catholics, including the Inquisitions and the Crusades. Ignatius observed that as Parkinson's disease progressed, others took on more day-to-day decision-making in the papal office, though he maintained that the pope's pastoral dedication and zeal resulted in immense good. John Paul II died on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, a feast he instituted.