Vatican News / Wojciech Rogacin – Vatican
There are many John Paul II foundations, but there is only one that bears the adjective “Vatican” in its name – which means it is directly subordinate to the Holy Father, explains Fr. Paweł Ptasznik, President of the Foundation’s Council, in an interview with Vatican News. At the same time, throughout its 45-year history, the Foundation has been fulfilling the goals set for it by St. John Paul II.
Already today, Fr. Ptasznik, together with the Board, invites everyone to the upcoming celebrations in Rome marking the jubilee of this esteemed institution. The celebrations will take place from October 19 to 22 and will include Holy Masses, a grand concert featuring well-known artists inspired by the teachings of St. John Paul II, and a special audience with Leo XIV.
Goals Set by John Paul II
The Foundation was established on the third anniversary of the election of John Paul II, on October 16, 1981. “The Holy Father accepted the proposal to create such a foundation, and the idea came from Polish diaspora communities, especially from America, and was presented to John Paul II by Archbishop Szczepan Wesoły, who at that time was responsible for the pastoral care of Poles abroad,” says Fr. Ptasznik.
He adds that John Paul II set three specific goals for the foundation at the same time: fostering contact between people of culture and science from Poland and neighboring countries with the West, educating youth from the countries of the then-Eastern Bloc, and caring for pilgrims arriving in Rome, which in turn was linked to the establishment of the Polish House on Via Cassia.
“And now the 45th anniversary of the Foundation’s establishment is approaching. We wish to celebrate it in Rome in the company of the Foundation’s friends, so that these celebrations go as well as possible and prove most fruitful for those who have decided to come to Rome for them,” adds the Chairman of the Administrative Council.
The inauguration of the celebrations will be a Holy Mass celebrated on October 19 at 9:00 a.m. at the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina in Rome, presided over by Card. Stanisław Dziwisz.
Among those present at the celebrations will also be Card. Grzegorz Ryś. By virtue of the statutes, each successive Metropolitan of Kraków oversees the activities of the Foundation, exercising supreme authority within it.
Audience with Leo XIV and Events for Everyone
An extremely important distinction for the employees and members of the Foundation will be a special audience with Leo XIV. It will take place immediately after the celebration of the Holy Mass on October 19. This is the only jubilee event in which exclusively Foundation members will participate. The others – as Fr. Ptasznik assures – are open to all interested parties.
Also on the evening of October 19, a screening of the film “Mary, Mother of the Pope” will take place at the John Paul II Polish House on Via Cassia.
The following day at 9:00 a.m., the anniversary symposium will begin at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, and at 6:30 p.m., a Holy Mass will be celebrated entrusting the Foundation to the care of Our Lady.
“On Wednesday, we will attend the general audience. In the afternoon, at the John Paul II Polish House on Via Cassia, there will be a meeting with our guests combined with Holy Mass, followed by the blessing of the plaque honoring the Foundation’s donors. The day will end with a dinner for everyone present,” says Fr. Ptasznik.
The finale of the celebrations will take place on Thursday, October 22 – on the liturgical memorial of St. John Paul II. At 8:00 a.m., Holy Mass will begin at the altar of the chair in St. Peter’s Basilica, and in the evening, a grand concert entitled “Psalms with John Paul II – Psalms of Peace” is planned at the Auditorium Conciliazione.
The full program can be found on the Foundation’s website at vaticanjp2.va/pl.
Great Achievements
Fr. Paweł Ptasznik emphasizes that everyone involved in the Foundation’s activities has reason to celebrate, although he also sees further tasks that must already be undertaken.
Speaking of achievements, he points to scholarships for youth. “The Holy Father John Paul II cared very much about scholarship activities,” he emphasizes. “And over these 45 years, we have managed to educate at least to a master’s degree level over a thousand students from the countries of the former Eastern Bloc,” he says. – “This is a huge achievement, because they return to their societies and there they form an elite educated in the Christian spirit, prepared to perform tasks in various sectors of social life,” adds Fr. Ptasznik.
He recalls the Institute of Polish Culture, which operated until 2003 within the framework of the Foundation, helping scientists and people of culture and art from Poland and the Eastern Bloc countries establish contacts with Western partners.
This was particularly important when Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain and such contact was very difficult. Today, the Foundation Council once again sees the need to return to supporting the dialogue between the world of religion and the world of culture.
Another important undertaking is the Documentation and Study Center of the Pontificate of John Paul II. “We care about preserving the memory of the work and teachings of John Paul II, and at the same time promoting his teachings among contemporary societies as much as possible,” explains Fr. Ptasznik. “Time passes and the Pontificate of John Paul II is increasingly becoming history, yet it is a prophetic message, enduringly relevant.”
Fr. Ptasznik also points to material challenges, such as the need to adapt the facilities of the John Paul II Polish House to new needs. The building is already over 70 years old and requires modernization and renovation, while it serves pilgrims not only from Poland, but from all over the world.
The Only Vatican John Paul II Foundation
There are several foundations in the world bearing the name of John Paul II, but this is the only one that includes the adjective “Vatican” in its name. “This is very important, because it means that the Foundation is subordinate almost directly to the Holy Father and the Secretariat of State of the Holy See,” emphasizes Fr. Ptasznik.
The activities of the Foundation are overseen by the respective Archbishop of Kraków, who presents candidates for the Administrative Council, for example. However, all major decisions of the Foundation – whether regarding the composition of the Administrative Council or the person or institution proposed for the John Paul II Prize, which is another point of the Foundation’s activity – must receive a so-called nulla osta, meaning they must be approved by the Secretariat of State.
The Vatican John Paul II Foundation also has an address within the Vatican itself – on Via del Pellegrino. “This links us to the Vatican and allows us to benefit from the facilities that this Vatican affiliation provides,” adds Fr. Ptasznik. For example, the Foundation’s website vaticanjp2.va is on the Vatican domain. Email addresses also end in .va, which is the Vatican extension. “This makes it easy to distinguish our Foundation from others established in the world during that time,” explains Fr. Ptasznik.
The 45th anniversary jubilee of the Vatican John Paul II Foundation will therefore be celebrated in Rome by Cardinals Dziwisz and Ryś, numerous bishops from Poland, representatives of the Roman Curia, as well as invited diplomats from embassies accredited to the Holy See and 450 representatives of circles of friends of the Foundation from around the world.
