As we mark the 20th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s death and birth into eternal life on April 2, it’s key to focus on the most important lessons of his life.
His legacy is monumental, inside and outside the Catholic Church — one of the reasons why many think he should be officially named John Paul “the Great,” alongside Leo the Great (440-461), Gregory the Great (590-604) and Nicholas the Great (850-867).
He was great, even outside the Church, because of his role in international affairs — helping catalyze the collapse of Soviet communism, resisting efforts by worldly superpowers to impose international human rights abuses, and giving hope and courage to suffering peoples everywhere. He visited 129 countries, traveling more than 700,000 miles — more than all of his predecessors combined and nearly three times the distance of a round trip to the moon.
Read Full Article »