JOHN PAUL II

1. 1920-2005 JOHN PAUL II • Cardinal from Krakow, Poland • Karol Wojtyla became the first non-Italian pope in 450 years • Elected pope in 1978 - 3rd longest papacy • Most traveled pope - visited 129 countries • 104 foreign trips, more than all previous popes combined • Created 1,338 saints, more than the last 400 years combined

2. HIS LASTING LEGACY • VALUES – Vigorously defended traditional church opposition to birth control and abortion; also spoke against the death penalty and the Iraq war. • SOCIAL JUSTICE – Took dictators to task, preached throughout the Third World. • POLITICS – Opposed communism, but also warned against the secularism and “soulless materialism” of capitalism.

3. RECONCILIATION • Apologized for Christian inaction during the Holocaust to help Jews. • Acknowledged that Galileo was wrongly censured in 1633 by the Inquisition for asserting that Earth is not the center of the universe. • Apologized to Orthodox Christians for the 1204 sacking of Constantinople, the center of Eastern Orthodoxy. • The first pope to visit a mosque and Rome’s synagogue.

4. QUALITY OF MERCY In 1981, John Paul II was shot by a Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, in St. Peter’s Square. He forgave him 3 days later and visited Agca in jail in 1983. Agca would be pardoned in 2000 at the Pope’s request.

5. DEATH OF THE POPE • The death of the Pope is verified by a cardinal, known as the carmelengo. According to legend, the Pope’s forehead is gently striked with a small silver hammer looking for a response. This ceremony has not been observed during the twentieth century. • When John Paul II died, just a one word question was repeated three times by the carmelengo, “Karol?” • When the pope failed to respond, the camerlengo announced “The Pope is dead.” • The camerlengo then takes possession of the Fisherman’s Ring worn by the Pope; the Ring, along with the papal seal, is later destroyed before the College of Cardinals.

6. AFTER THE POPE’S DEATH • Funeral takes place 4-6 days after the Pope’s death. • Novemdiales, 9 days of mourning. • Conclave, or election process, begins 15-20 days after the Pope’s death. • Any baptized Catholic male may be elected pope. The last non-cardinal was Urban VI in 1379.

7. CONCLAVE • Since 1179, the College of the Cardinals has been the sole elector, and since 1271, it has voted in conclave. • The term comes from the Latin phrase cum clavi ("with a key"), referring to the "locking away" of the electors during the process. • Only cardinals younger than 80 may vote. 114 of the 117 cardinals eligible to vote were appointed by Pope John Paul II. 58 are from Europe; 11 of the 14 from North America are from the United States.

8. SISTINE CHAPEL

9. ELECTION PROCESS • In 1996, John Paul II left written instructions called Universi Dominici Gregis (Shepherd of the Lord's Whole Flock) • The winner must get two-thirds of the votes. • One ballot on the first day. • Four ballots for the next two days. • After a one day pause, voting resumes for seven ballots, a cycle that may be repeated twice.

10. A conclave voting ballot shown open A conclave voting ballot shown closed

11. THE NEW POPE • After each ballot, ballots are burned in a stove. Black smoke indicates no decision. White smoke signifies a new pope. • If no winner emerges after 12 to 13 days, the cardinals may elect a Pope by simple majority. • Since 1831, no conclave has lasted more than 4 days. In 1978, John Paul II was elected in 2 days after 8 ballots. • An announcement will be made from the central window of St. Peter's Basilica: "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope).

12. St. Peter’s Basilica central window

13. JOHN PAUL II "Violence never again! War never again! Terrorism never again! In the name of God, may every religion bring upon the earth justice and peace, forgiveness and life. Love." Addressing a special peace meeting in Assisi, Italy in 2002, after the September 11 attacks against the United States. “The future starts today, not tomorrow.” “Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn’t misuse it.”