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Krakow Sites of Saint John Paul II 

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Pope John Paul II

In the Footsteps of Pope John Paul II in Krakow.

The greatest citizen of Krakow, Poland resided in Vatican from 1978 to 2005. Before having taken over the Holy See as Pope John Paul II, Karol Wojtyla had lived in Krakow for four decades – practically through his entire adult life until his assumption of the papacy. Here he spent his formative years as a student and then as a young priest, a theologian and a philosopher, a playwright and a poet. And here he made most of the breathtaking ascent from the position of a humble curate at Krakow’s church of St. Florian’s to university professor to Krakow bishop to cardinal to the Vicar of Christ. 

Kanonicza street in Krakow
Kanonicza street in Krakow. In the foreground - two adjacent houses where John Paul II lived 
from 1951 to 1963 have been turned into the Archdiocese Museum with a department devoted to the late Pope.

Krakow's route of Pope John Paul II

If one intends to visit places connected with the life of the man who shepherded the Church into its third millennium, he should start at Debniki, Krakow’s residential district vis-a-vis the Wawel Hill across the Vistula river. Born in the town of Wadowice some 30 miles southwest of Krakow, 18-year-old student Karol Wojtyla moved in to a Debniki basement room at 10 Tyniecka street in 1938. Next September Nazi Germany invaded Poland and under their five-year-long occupation he was forced to work in the nearby Zakrzowek quarry while concurrently studying at an underground theological seminary. First thing every morning he heard Mass and went to Communion at the large, modern Debniki parish church of St. Stanislaw Kostka’s where also young Father Wojtyla would say the second Mass in his life on November 3, 1946. He said his first Mass a day earlier in the 12th-century Crypt of St. Leonard’s under the Wawel Cathedral where Polish kings and national heroes are laid to rest. 

Could the newly ordained priest expect that barely seventeen years would elapse and he would take the Wawel Cathedral over as the Krakow Archbishop? Twelve of these seventeen he was to live at the foot of the cathedral, at the splendid Kanonicza street. Father Wojtyla resided at 19 Kanonicza street from 1951 till 1958, when he became bishop; and at the adjacent no. 21 till 1963, when he became the Krakow archbishop. Now both those houses are turned into the Archdiocese Museum which exhibits the church art. Yet Father Wojtyla’s old room looks as if he only recently walked out, complete with the furniture he once used. Added are such John Paul II’s memorabilia as coins and medals minted in his honor and robes he wore as university professor, bishop, cardinal and, finally, the Pope. There is also the exhibition of varied gifts presented to Pope John Paul II during his long pontificate.

A five minutes’ stroll down the most charming Kanonicza Street and then through the Planty gardens will bring you to the gate of the stately Bishops’ Palace at 3 Franciszkanska street whose ample first-floor rooms were home to His Eminence Cardinal Karol Wojtyla since 1963 to 1978. Previously he had lived in the palace as a seminarist throughout 1945 and was ordained in its chapel on the All Saints Day AD 1946. In October 1978 Cardinal Wojtyla left for Rome to participate in the conclave which elected him the Pope. In the ensuing year he visited his native Krakow for the first time as John Paul II, staying again briefly in the Bishops’ Palace. In the palatial courtyard one can see his statue commemorating the most famous master of the place. 


John Paul II robe in the JPII Sanctuary in Krakow, Poland

St. John Paul II sanctuary in Krakow

Krakow churches
Krakow numerous churches are architectural gems, art hoards, and spiritual hubs

Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II

Czestochowa
Jasna Gora Sanctuary in Czestochowa is the holiest place of Poland and one of the world’s most important destinations for pilgrims.

Kalwaria
With its 42 Baroque churches and chapels of all shapes and sizes in addition to the central basilica and the Franciscan monastery, the Kalwaria Zebrzydowska sanctuary is Europe's biggest Calvary shrine.

Skalka Sanctuary
Poland’s second holiest shrine at the site of St. Stanislav’s 1079 martyrdom. Splendid Baroque church and fine monastery modeled on a Renaissance castle.

Sanctuary of the Lord's Mercy
Humble nun’s visions in the 1930s gave rise to a world-wide spiritual movement inside the Catholic Church, ever stronger nowadays, with the center in her Krakow convent.

Roman Catholic Church
Sunday Masses

The 2006 visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Krakow

Pope Francis to visit Krakow in 2016

Wawel Cathedral
Poland's impressive national shrine dates from the 14th century and shelters plenty of superb church art. The
Sigismund Chapel is a masterpiece of the Renaissance art and architecture. Giant Zygmunt bell of 1520 ranks with the world's largest. Most Polish kings are buried here together with the greatest national heroes.

Wawel Hill
Wawel Hill in Krakow, the mecca of every Pole and a must for foreign tourists, is a microcosm of Polish history and culture.

Basilica of the Virgin Mary's
Immense Gothic church, the city of Krakow's principal temple since the 13th century, boasts the world's
greatest Gothic sculpture among its many excellent works of art. Huge stained-glass widows of the chancel date from the 14th century.

Royal Tombs
Poland's medieval rulers are buried under their sarcophagi in the Cathedral's nave. Visitors can also see crypts with the tombs of the Renaissance and later monarchs.

Krakow Old Town Historical District
Poland's prime tourist attraction and a must-see in Central Europe boasts numerous world-class monuments, charming vistas, delightful atmosphere, and the best restaurants.

Kanonicza Street
The most beautiful of Europe's ancient streets,arguably.

Planty Garden Ring
Park of 30 varied gardens among old trees round Krakow's Old Town historical district


Krakow on Foot
The best way to enjoy old Krakow is afoot.

Stroll Up the Royal Road

Stroll Round the Grand Square

Stroll through Krakow's Kazimierz District

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