The faithful from around the world have another opportunity to remember Pope John Paul II.

When Karol Wojtyla was a young priest, he  prayed before this image of the Assumption of Our Lady of Niegowic, a town 30 kilometers from Krakow. Currently, the image is at the Church of Santa Ana in the Vatican and will soon visit other countries.

 

Msgr. Jarek Cielecki
Director, Vatican News Service
"John Paul II celebrated the Holy Mass at 7 am, but arrived at 6 to pray, many times people saw him praying lying before this image."

 

The painting was brought to the Vatican on the occasion of the anniversary of John Paul II’s priest ordination on Nov. 1, 1946 and first Mass celebration on 2.

Msgr. Jarek Cielecki
Director, Vatican News Service
"The image of Our Lady of the parish of Niegowich, located 30 kilometers from Krakow, has been in the Vatican two times, as a part of a pilgrimage to many countries.”

 

It is said that in 1948, John Paul II pronounced before this image the phrase "Totus Tuus" - totally yours - which defined his life and his pontificate.

Msgr. Jarek Cielecki
Director, Vatican News Service
"When we bring the image of Our Lady of the Assumption to parishes, people pray before the image  with great emotion because they feel the presence of Our Lady and to some extent the presence of John Paul II."

Benedict XVI has already prayed before the image. The painting has been in Italy, Austria, Slovakia, Poland and France. And in January will be taken to Mexico, on the occasion of the VI World Meeting of Families.