Papieska Kalwaria

The Pope's Calvaria

Summary: This study presents the special relations of Pope John Paul II with the sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. Karol Wojtyła went on pilgrimages to this place in his childhood, youth, as a priest, bishop, cardinal and pope. He first travelled there with his parents, and after his mother's death - with his father. It was also here that, together with his father, he mourned the premature death of his brother, Edmund. Many years later, already as Cardinal Metropolitan of Kraków, he confessed: "Whenever we had any family events at home, any problems, we went to Our Lady of Kalwaria and to the paths." In his speeches, the Holy Father often mentioned the sanctuary in Kalwaria, explained its thorough theology and showed his personal relations with it. Once he stressed that Kalwaria conceals a "great mystery". In his speeches, he particularly accentuated three fundamental aspects of the sanctuary, namely: the Mystery of Pascha, with special attention given to the Passion and death of Christ; the characteristic worship of Our Lady, and the contemplative dimension of the sanctuary. Throughout his life, Pope John Paul II showed a very warm, personal and devoted relation to the centre discussed herein. Many facts confirm his spiritual bonds with the sanctuary of Kalwaria. One may express an opinion that he was under the great impression of the spiritual richness of this sacred place. Undoubtedly, this constituted a specific reference platform for Pope John Paul II at various stages of His life oriented at the service of God, the Church and man. It is fully justified to define this sanctuary as "the Pope's Calvaria".

Peregrinus Cracoviensis, 2006, z. 17, s. 19-32.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISSN 1425-1922

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