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In 1984, Pope John Paul II met in Rome with 300,000 young people from all over the world in a meeting that laid the foundations for today’s World Youth Day. / Credit: Gregorini Demetrio, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Five Ways St. John Paul II Changed the Catholic Church Forever

Oct 22, 2025

St. John Paul II was the second-longest-serving pope in modern history with 27 years of pontificate. He was the first non-Italian pontiff since Pope Adrian VI in 1523.

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Credit: Catholic Diocese of Kontagora/Society of African Missions (SMA)

Missionary Congregation Joins Call for Prayers for 265 Children still Held after Nigerian School Abductions

Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY). Credit: Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio (CDTY)

“A nation cannot build new roads on old wounds”: South Sudanese Catholic Bishop Urges Youth to Embrace Dialogue

Credit: Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM)

Mozambique’s National Youth Celebrations Open with Call for Young People to Lead Healing, Renewal of the Country

Late Bishop Edward Gabriel Risi. Credit: Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC)

South African Catholic Bishop Known for Liturgical Reform at Conference Dies at 76

St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. / Credit: Xosema (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Vatican Commission Rejects Female Diaconate, Although Without a "definitive judgment"

Credit: SACBC

Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa Call for Family Centred Approach in Addressing Gender-Based Violence

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Fr. John Berinyuy Tatah. Credit: Bamenda Archdiocese

Last of Six Abducted Catholic Priests in Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese Regains Freedom

Credit: DiaCENCO

DR Congo’s Catholic Bishops Launch Construction of National Shrine Honoring Blessed Anuarite

Archbishop Philip Anyolo Subira of Kenya's Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN). Credit: CUEA

African Centre of Theology and Canon Law Conference in Kenya Lauded as “truly an important moment”

Mons. François Halyday Mbouangui. Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Brazzaville

New Coadjutor Bishop of Nkayi Diocese in Congo Brazzaville Acknowledges Fears, Appeals for Prayers

Credit: Christin Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)

Christian Entity Calls for Justice for Employee Assaulted by Police in UK while Protesting Atrocities in Sudan

Pope Leo XIV interacts with a baby before celebrating Mass in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Powerful Moments from Pope Leo XIV’s Trip to Turkey and Lebanon

Fr. Emmanuel Ezema. Credit: Zaria Diocese

Appeal for Prayers as Catholic Priest Kidnapped from Residence in Nigeria Remains Missing

The National President of Nigeria's National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL) Barrister Edward Orgah. Credit ACI Africa

Catholic Lawyers in Nigeria Urged to Reject Bribery, Champion Integrity in Country’s Troubled Judicial System

Credit: Mitume Radio

“Bring laughter back into our homes,” Kenyan Archbishop Urges Women to Restore Joy in Families

A photo display of persecuted Christians in Iraq and Nigeria can be seen at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., until Feb. 8, 2026. / Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA

Nigerian, Iraqi Priests Tell of Aiding Persecuted Christians Seen in Photo Exhibit

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