Twenty years after the passing of Pope St. John Paul II, the Church honors his legacy as a leader who shaped history through his advocacy for peace and human dignity. On April 2, 2005, crowds filled St. Peter’s Square, gazing anxiously up at the windows of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope spent his last days. Now, 20 years later, thousands of people are in Rome to honor him once again. A special concert was organized in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where cardinals, bishops, and friends of the Pope came together to commemorate him. In the afternoon, St. Peter's Basilica was filled with the faithful for a solemn Mass celebrated by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Among those in attendance was Poland’s president, paying tribute to the pope who played a key role in his nation’s path to freedom. Those who worked closely with John Paul II, including Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz and Archbishop Piero Marini, reflected on his lasting impact, recalling his final days and the unwavering devotion of young people who stood vigil in St. Peter’s Square. Even today, thousands continue to visit his tomb in Saint Peter’s Basilica, a testament to the profound influence of a pope who, as Cardinal Parolin notes, 'never sought to please men, but only God.' EWTN Vatican News Journalist Magdalena Wolinska-Riedi has more.

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