Krakow, Poland: Have No Fear! John Paul II Centre
About the John Paul II Centre in Krakow:
One of the world’s most dynamic and loved figures of the late 20th Century, Pope John Paul II is honored in many places and that is certainly true in his native Poland.
About a mile from the Shrine of Divine Mercy (perhaps Krakow’s most visited shrine) is the Have No Fear! John Paul II Centre.
In his speech given October 1978 during the inauguration of his pontificate he said: “Have no fear! Open wide the doors for Jesus Christ and His saving power. Open the borders between countries, economic systems, regimes, and civilization directions. Have no fear!”
The main architechtural feature is the “lower church” or “Chapel of the Relics”, an octagonal shrine in the basement. It contains pictures of various events during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II with special emphasis on his visits to some of the world’s most famous Marian shrines.
In the center of the shrine is simple marble altar that contains a phial with a relic of his blood. The blood-stained cassock that he wore on the day of the attempted assassination is also on display here.
There are daily Masses at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., noon, and 5:00 p.m.
The shrine is open daily.
Finding the John Paul II “Have No Fear” Centre in Krakow:
Address: ul. Kanonicza, 18 31-002 Kraków
GPS coordinates: 50° 3′ 21.7080” N 19° 56′ 15.1368” E
Tel: +48 12-429-64-71 Fax: +48 12 429 65 71
e-mail: centrum@janpawel2.pl
Click here for the official website of the John Paul II Cultural Center in Krakow, Poland
Photos courtesy Tom & Sue Melillo
For those in the U.S., there is also a John Paul II Center in Washington, D.C.
