Thousands of faithful gathered in front of God’s Mercy sanctuary today in Krakow, Poland to attend a mass and watch live from the Vatican as Pope Francis declares Polish-born Pope John Paul II a saint.KRAKOW, Poland – Nine years after his death, tens of thousands of Poles lauded their beloved countryman, Pope John Paul II, as he was declared a saint in an unprecedented Vatican ceremony Sunday.
Bells tolled across Poland and the crowds applauded, in unison with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, when Pope Francis declared the pontiff from Poland a saint.
John Paul remains a vital figure to many of his countrymen for having helped end communism in Poland, for his support of the Solidarity freedom movement that peacefully achieved that goal in 1989, and for his teachings about human rights and dignity.
Throughout Poland, the Vatican transmission was followed by a Mass of thanksgiving for the sainthood of a figure believed to be one of the greatest Poles ever.
“This is a great day for Poland, this is a great day for me,” said Maria Jurek from Katowice, her voice laden with emotion. “He changed Poland and he changed us with his teaching and with his visits here.”