Poland’s Roman Catholics are on Sunday marking Papal Day, an annual celebration that focuses on remembering and exploring the teachings of John Paul II, who was declared a saint less than a decade after his death.
This year’s Papal Day is being observed for the 23rd time under the motto of "John Paul II: A Civilization of Life," in reference to John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Evangelium vitae (Gospel of Life) about the value and inviolability of human life, according to the Warsaw-based Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia (Work of the New Millennium) Foundation, which organizes the event.
Celebrations have included Masses at Warsaw’s Holy Cross Basilica and Temple of Divine Providence and a service at a shrine named after the Polish-born pope in the southern city of Kraków.
A high-profile music concert was also scheduled for later in the day.
Papal Day is celebrated every year on the Sunday preceding the date Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected to the papacy and became Pope John Paul II.
John Paul II served as pope from October 16, 1978 until his death on April 2, 2005.
He was the third longest-serving pontiff in history and was declared a saint in 2014.
The pope was a strong supporter of Poland's anti-communist Solidarity movement and is recognised as a key influence in helping to end communist rule in Poland in 1989.
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Source: IAR, dzielo.pl