Poland marks the 48th anniversary of one of the most significant moments in modern Catholic history. On 22 October 1978, a solemn mass at St Peter’s Square in Rome inaugurated the pontificate of John Paul II, the first Polish Pope and the first non-Italian to hold the office in 455 years.
The inaugural homily delivered that day would become one of the defining statements of Karol Wojtyła’s papacy. “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors to Christ,” the new pontiff told the faithful gathered in Rome, according to RMF24 – fakty. “Open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the wide fields of culture, civilisation and development to His saving power! Do not be afraid! Christ knows what is inside man. He alone knows this.”
These words are now regarded as one of the theological and social foundations of his 27-year pontificate, which would reshape the role of the papacy on the global stage and play a crucial part in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.
From Kraków to the Vatican
Cardinal Wojtyła’s election took place six days earlier, on 16 October 1978, following the death of John Paul I after just 33 days in office. The conclave, which began on 14 October, brought together 111 cardinals—56 from Europe, including 26 Italians. On the eighth ballot, 99 cardinals voted for the 58-year-old Archbishop of Kraków, a result announced to the world by the traditional white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
Before travelling to the funeral of John Paul I and the subsequent conclave, Cardinal Wojtyła spent the night at a guest house run by Ursuline nuns in Warsaw’s Powiśle district. He became the 264th leader of the Catholic Church and the first Pope since 1903 who had never worked as an official in the Roman Curia.
In his first public address, John Paul II said the cardinals had “called him from a distant country—distant, yet always so close through communion in Christian faith and tradition.” He admitted he was afraid to accept the choice, but did so “in a spirit of obedience to Our Lord Jesus Christ and in total trust in His Mother, the Most Holy Virgin Mary.”
A pontificate of historic scope
John Paul II’s first pilgrimage took place just seven days after the inauguration, on 29 October, to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace at Mentorella. Over the next 27 years, he completed 104 international pilgrimages, visiting 129 countries across all continents, as well as more than 140 apostolic journeys within Italy.
Poland remained the country he visited most frequently—nine times in total. He travelled to the United States and France seven times each, and to Mexico and Spain five times. His farthest journey, covering 48,974 kilometres, took him to the Far East and Oceania in November and December 1986. That trip also ranks as his longest, lasting 13 days.
During his pontificate, John Paul II published 14 encyclicals, 14 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions and 43 apostolic letters. He convened nine consistories and appointed 232 cardinals, including ten Poles. He canonised 478 saints—among them nine Poles and two others with Polish connections—and beatified 1,318 blessed, including 154 Poles.
What this means for Poles in the UK
The anniversary of John Paul II’s inauguration remains an important date for the Polish community in Britain, many of whom grew up during his pontificate or were shaped by his influence on Poland’s journey to democracy. Polish Catholic missions across the UK typically hold memorial masses and cultural events around key dates in the Pope’s life, including 22 October, 16 October (the date of his election) and 2 April (the anniversary of his death in 2005).
For Poles living abroad, John Paul II remains a symbol of national identity and spiritual heritage. His message of courage and openness continues to resonate, particularly among older generations who witnessed his role in supporting the Solidarity movement and the eventual fall of communism. Churches in London, Manchester, Birmingham and other cities with large Polish congregations often organise commemorative services on this date, offering an opportunity for the diaspora to reflect on his legacy and its enduring relevance to their faith and community life in the UK.
