Have
No Fear! John Paul II Center in Krakow
is destined to be the main shrine to the saintly Pope who led
the Catholic Church into its third millenium and made an
indelible mark on the world. The vast complex has been
designed to accommodate a number of Catholic institutions,
such as a Volunteerism Center and the Institute of John Paul
II, as well as churches and chapels. The center is
conveniently situated in close proximity to the famous
Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.
Central
altar with the relic of John Paul II's blood in a glass case.
At
the heart of the sanctuary of John Paul II
Even
as the complex generally remains a busy construction site, it
already attracts pilgrims. The chief magnet for them is an
octagonal basement shrine to John Paul II known as the
“lower church” of the sanctuary or the Church of the
Relics (Kosciol Relikwi). Although windowless it looks
cheerful thanks to bright lighting and pale decor with
vividly-colored pictures depicting events from the pontificate
of Pope John Paul II, namely his visits to the world’s most
famous Marian sanctuaries. The centerpiece of the shrine is a
rather simple marble altar in the middle that contains a phial
with the relic of the blood of Blessed John Paul II displayed
in a glass case.
Holy
Mass is said in the church every day at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., noon,
and 5 p.m.
Visiting
Krakow’s John Paul II Center
The
sanctuary of Blessed John Paul II is situated in the
Lagiewniki neighborhood of Krakow, some four kilometers south
of the Old town
historical center. It’s accessible on foot from
the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy after a five minutes walk
(motorists may use a sizable car park at the Divine Mercy
Sanctuary). There are two access roads for cars, Herberta
street from the east and Marcika street from the west (ul.
Zakopianska throughway).
GPS
coordinates 50 0’ 52’’ N, 19 56’ 20’’ E.
Footpath
to Krakow’s Sanctuary of Pope John II, view from the
Sanctuary of Divine Mercy.
Contact
information for the John Paul II Sanctuary
Postal
address: Sanktuarium bl. Jana Pawla II Papieza, ul. J. Marcika
3, 30-443 Krakow, Poland. Phone (+48) 124296471.
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.
Tyniec Abbey Hilltop monastery-fortress dates
from the 11th c.
Bielany Monastery
Magnificent 17th-century Baroque
hermitage complex atop the Silver Mountain hovers
over Krakow.
St. Norbert's
Convent Vast fortified complex on the Vistula
river is home to Krakow’s once powerful
Premonstratensian Sisters since the 12th c.
