Pope John Paul II: His Essential Wisdom

Pope John Paul II has been called the most influential moral leader of the last 100 years, and for a good reason. With a papacy that lasted over a quarter century, Pope John Paul II led the world’s more than one billion Catholics into the third millennium, and all the while remained a steadfast presence on the world stage. During his papacy, he made 104 trips abroad and inspired, enlightened, and challenged millions of people all over the world with his words and his wisdom.

This book gathers together hundreds of resonant quotations from Pope John Paul II. The selections are taken from his homilies, encyclicals, speeches, books, and other statements made—both formal and spontaneous—during the course of his papacy. In these excerpts, he speaks passionately about the need for social justice, the importance of family, the value of prayer, the meaning of suffering, the way to peace, and the equality of all human beings. Also included are quotations in which the Pope recalls his early years, life in war-torn Poland, and his calling to the priesthood. Finally, there is a selection of quotations from world leaders and dignitaries remembering Pope John Paul II, and speaking about his remarkable and enduring legacy on the world.