{"id":16816,"date":"2022-04-19T04:49:12","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T02:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/krakowzwiedzanie.pl\/?p=16816\/?p=16816"},"modified":"2026-03-18T18:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T17:06:34","slug":"krakow-sightseeing-in-the-footsteps-of-pope-john-paul-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krakowzwiedzanie.pl\/en\/krakow-sightseeing-in-the-footsteps-of-pope-john-paul-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Krakow sightseeing in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Karol Wojty\u0142a, later Pope John Paul II lived in Krakow for nearly 40 years. In the city, there are many places associated with him. In Krakow, the future Bishop of Rome took his first steps into adulthood, survived the Nazi Occupation during World War II and developed his acting talent. What is more, he was ordained a priest, received episcopal consecration, and finally, he become Archbishop of Krakow. It seems that the city had a huge influence on Karol Wojty\u0142a\u2019s spiritual, intellectual and moral formation.<\/strong>
\n<\/p>\n

\"John<\/p>\n

Karol Wojty\u0142a\u2019s first house in Krak\u00f3w<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First place related to the future pope is the house at Tyniecka St. no. 10<\/strong> in Debniki district<\/strong>. Karol Wojtyla moved here with his father in 1938. The house belonged to brother of Karol\u2019s mother. They rented a very small apartment located in the basement. Their flat consisted of two rooms and a kitchen (total area of approx. 30 m2). Wojtyla spent here nearly six years (all the Nazi Occupation when he was employed as a worker in Soda Works \u2018Solvay\u2019<\/strong>). Today, the house is not owned by Pope\u2019s relatives so it can be viewed only from the outside.<\/p>\n

Places associated with John Paul II in the Old Town<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Karol Wojty\u0142a had desires to gain a proper education so he came to Krakow. He began his studies in 1938 at the Jagiellonian Univeristy<\/strong> (he studied Polish Philology at the Faculty of Philosophy<\/strong>). Despite official ban on running classes during World War II, professors took secret teaching in which Wojty\u0142a participated. He continued his studies at the Faculty of Theology<\/strong> and ended with Master’s Degree in 1946. Important memorabilia of Karol Wojtyla are presented at the Jagiellonian University Museum including photos, a master’s degree in theology diploma, some papal gifts, and a plaque commemorating the title of doctor honoris causa<\/em><\/strong> that was given to the Pope in 1983.<\/p>\n

A truly unique place for Karol Wojty\u0142a was the Archbishop\u2019s Palace at Franciszkanska St<\/strong> no. 3. Despite the fact that the future Pope move here just in 1967, he was a frequent guest in the palace before. In 1946 Woj\u0142ty\u0142a was ordained a priest by Cardnial Sapieha<\/strong> during the mess celebrated in the private chapel of Krakow archbishops. Later, while his papal pilgrimages to Poland, palace became a place of John Paul residence for few times. Once he stood in front of the window above the entrance to the palace and blessed gathered faithful which quickly became a new tradition. Pope gave some spontaneous speeches to assembled crowds, sang common songs and prayed. Currently, the \u2018papal window\u2019 can be found very quickly thanks to his photo on the glass. It is worth noting that Pope Benedict XVI<\/strong> and lately Pope Francis also appeared in the window during their visits to Poland.<\/p>\n

\"John<\/h4>\n

Krak\u00f3w B\u0142onia and the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Close to the Old Town, next to the National Museum and Cracovia Football Stadium, you can find Krakow B\u0142onia\u00a0 \u2013 a vast green area of approx. 48 hectares, where papal masses and meetings gathered millions of pilgrims from Poland and other countries. These events started at the first John Paul\u2019s pilgrimage to his homeland in 1979. Due to commemorate such important celebrations, in October 1997 (exactly on the 19th<\/sup>anniversary of Karol Wojty\u0142a election), city authorities transported a special stone (26 tons weight!) from Morskie Oko lake in Tatry Mountains to B\u0142onia.<\/p>\n

If the main purpose of your stay in Krak\u00f3w is a spiritual meeting with John Paul II, then you necessarily need to visit Sanctuary of the St. John Paul II in Krakow \u0141agiewniki<\/strong>, close to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy<\/strong>. It is a huge complex with an extremely interesting architecture. There is two-level temple with saint relics and famous mosaics. You can also visit the museum fulfilled with papal gifts.<\/p>\n

Walking in the footsteps of John Paul II, you may encounter many other places and monuments evoking his memory. We are happy to discover them to you during our guided tour:\u00a0http:\/\/krakowzwiedzanie.pl\/en\/the-paths-of-john-paul-ii\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Karol Wojty\u0142a, later Pope John Paul II lived in Krakow for nearly 40 years. In the city, there are many places associated with him. In Krakow, the future Bishop of Rome took his first steps into adulthood, survived the Nazi Occupation during World War II and developed his acting talent. What is more, he was
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