Pope St. John Paul II’s prophetic words on peace and war are gaining relevance two decades after his passing. The Polish Pope, known for defending life, human dignity, and religious freedom, also spoke out against communism and warned of the consequences of unchecked power.
In 2005, he brought a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to St. Peter’s Square, calling humanity to a crossroads where it could choose between creating a garden or reducing the world to rubble. He specifically opposed the First Gulf War in 1991 and later criticized the second war against Iraq in 2003.
With Parkinson’s disease worsening his physical condition, Pope John Paul II urged young leaders not to repeat the horrors of World War II, emphasizing that “never again war!” He made this appeal during a prayer session, echoing words of his predecessor, Pope St. Paul VI.
As global tensions rise and nations are racing to fill their arsenals, it’s essential to remember the Bishop of Rome’s prophetic warnings. His successor is now standing alone against the madness of war, echoing those same cries for peace and an end to conflict.
Source: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/the-prophecy-of-peace-by-pope-john-paul-ii-20-years-later.html