Today marks 40 years when Cardinal Karol Wojtyła was elected Pope. Unique and different from the rest, Pope John Paul II was said so often.

26 years of the pontificate

Exactly 40 years ago on Monday at 16:30 pm, the world heard the words known to all habemus papam, we have a pope. The Pole was the first in history to be elected pope. He held this position for 26 years. Those years were special and unique for everyone. Karol Wojtyła was our Pope at a time when many important matters from the Church's point of view were happening in the world. Religion and its power to unite was then needed as little as ever, and St. John Paul II was characterized by great courage and a willingness to reconcile people.

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People loved him right away

The choice of a Pole to become pope raised quite a surprise not only among the cardinals, but also many people around the world. Firstly, he was not an Italian, and secondly, a man who came from a country ruled by communists. Pope John Paul II was often called the man "behind the Iron Curtain". However, his personality quickly gained the sympathy of many people around the world. His speech at the inauguration of his pontificate when he said "Do not be afraid. Open, open wide the doors to Christ." it has stolen the hearts of many people.

Eternal pilgrim

He was a pope who broke all conventions and differed in his behavior from his predecessors. During 26 years, he broke the record of papal journeys, because he made 104 apostolic journeys. He visited all continents and made almost 100 pilgrimages in Italy. His travels have always attracted crowds not only of the faithful, but above all of those who wanted to listen to him, because for many he was a great speaker. This is evidenced by the number of listeners who came to the World Youth Day in Manila in 1995. Then over four million people from 100 countries gathered to listen to the speech of John Paul II.

An outstanding poet

In addition to being the pope, John Paul II possessed many talents. One was the ability to write. He was an outstanding poet, but also a playwright. In his career, he managed to write 14 encyclicals and exhortations, but also over 50 letters and apostolic constitutions. He very often took up many topics, which he decomposed into prime factors, and considered them. It was not only a religion, but often matters of everyday life and love, about which the Pope wrote a lot. To this day, many people around the world are quoting the Pope because his words have reached and are still reaching us.

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Amazing man

About St. John Paul II can be written for hours, because he was a man exceptional in his simplicity and love for other people. Incredibly intelligent, speaking 7 languages. The first pope to read without glasses and without a watch. He loved mountains and climbing them. He was the first pope in history to take part in a rock concert. You can write books about him because his biography is extremely rich. Even though he is no longer with us, we all remember how much he did for all of us, and above all, what a good and loving man he was.