John Paul II's canonization was celebrated by thousands in St. Peter's Square, but to make things a bit more intimate, Pope Francis celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass in Rome's so called Polish parish, St. Stanislaw church.
As a native of Poland, St. John Paul II visited this very parish more than 80 times, to pray and reflect.
POPE FRANCIS
'In trying and sad times, when everything seemed lost, he didn't lose hope. His faith and his hope were fixed on God.â?
The Pope recognized that as country, Poland has been tried many times in history. The country understood, he said, that before glory, comes the passion of the Cross. It's something John Paul II understood, he said, the question is, whether others are willing to follow.
Quoting St. John Paul II, the Pope explained that the Church is made up of pilgrims, not vagabonds.
POPE FRANCIS
'We are pilgrims, not vagabonds. We move forward and we know where we're heading. Vagabonds just wander.â?
During his short visit to the local parish, Pope Francis also met privately with homeless people who receive support from that church.
The Polish parish is one of the few in Rome, that houses a relic of St. John Paul II, along with one of his white papal vestments.
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