Resources on the Pope and the Papacy

by Brandon Jubar

The world has been reminiscing and honoring Pope John Paul II and I'm sure we will continue to do so as time goes on, but we also need to begin looking ahead. With that in mind, we'd like to highlight a few resources about John Paul II but also about the papacy in general and how we'll go about choosing the next successor of St. Peter.

I realize that there are mountains of information available on these subject, but I encourage you to take some time to explore the resources mentioned below. And even though we don't get to vote on who will be the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church, I believe it's important that we understand the process because it's an important time for our Church.

Resources: Pope John Paul II

A Short Biography

From the Vatican Web site, here is a short biography of Karol Wojtyla -- better known as Pope John Paul II.

Check it out...

John Paul II: His Life and Papacy

To help you with your ministry with teens during this time of sorrow, Saint Mary's Press has compiled resources on their Web site, including prayer services, classroom resources, and informative articles about Pope John Paul II and the papacy in general. This information is great for young people, but adults should check it out too. Includes a guide and activities to use these resources with your family!

Check it out...

CNN Special Report

"Voicing a strong moral vision, Pope John Paul II forged a legacy as one of the Catholic Church's most influential and controversial leaders. The 264th pontiff traveled more and beatified more people than any pope in history, and supporters and critics alike agree on the immense significance of his 26-year papacy."

Check it out...

Prolific Writer

Pope John Paul II was well known for his writing, including the 14 encyclicals he penned. They are all housed on the Vatican Web site and you may download them as well.

Check it out...

Resources: The Papacy

Catholic Update: The Future of the Papacy

The good folks at St. Anthony Messenger Press provide an excellent overview of the Papacy -- then, now and in the future -- on their Web site, AmericanCatholic.org...

Check it out...

Smoke Over the Vatican

"The next pope will be chosen in a well-defined traditional process that has been developed over centuries but one that the late Pope John Paul II also put his own stamp on." One of the many excellent articles on CNN.com...

Check it out...

Catholic Encyclopedia: The Pope

This is an exhaustive look at the papacy, chock full of links to other background information, but definitely not for the time-crunched!

Check it out...

Copyright 2005 by Brandon Jubar
All rights reserved.