The Pilgrim's Way: The Communion Of Saints

As we prepare for the feast of Saint John Paul II, we invite you to continue on this pilgrimage through our permanent exhibit, A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II. We hope you will walk through each of the nine galleries with us, so that you can get a taste of the spiritual and informational journey that awaits you here at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.

This week we will explore the ninth gallery: The Communion of Saints. After learning about the canonization of John Paul II, pilgrims in this gallery find themselves drawn to the lives of many other saints.

As the late Holy Father often reminded us, every person is called to holiness, or to loving union with God. The saints of the Church live out this “universal call to holiness” in many unique ways. St. John Paul II saw evidence of this in every land, in every age group, and in every culture.

This gallery displays the names of 1,338 blesseds and 482 saints who were beatified or canonized by John Paul II. The Litany of the Saints from the late Holy Father’s funeral Mass plays as pilgrims explore the gallery, highlighting particular saints who served as spiritual guides throughout his life and papacy.

Throughout this pilgrimage, you’ve observed St. John Paul II’s growth in holiness through his early life, his papacy, and his journey towards death. We now celebrate him as one of the greatest saints of our time! Is it possible that the Church will one day be celebrating your sainthood? Ponder this as you continue on pilgrimage with us.

St. John Paul II, Pray for Us!