Wadowice is a special place for pilgrimages with regard to Pope Saint John Paul II. It was here in Wadowice that Karol Wojtyła, future priest, bishop, cardinal and finally pope was born.

Wadowice – Birthplace of Karol Wojtyla

Being the head of the Catholic Church, Karol Wojtyla visited Wadowice three times: in 1979, 1991 and 1999. On his visits he prayed in the Basilica and met inhabitants of his home town. During his last visit he began his speech with the following words:

Beloved brothers and sisters! I have come to my home town of Wadowice once again. It is with great emotion that I look upon the town of my childhood days, which witnessed my first steps, my first words and the words, as Norwid said, that are like eternal faith of Jesus Christ “Praised be Jesus Christ”. (“My Song”). My home town, my family home and the church of my baptism…

I want to enter these welcoming door and again pay respects to my homeland and its people and utter the words with which family members are welcomed on arrival from their long journey: “Praised be Jesus Christ!”.

Coming to Wadowice and having the best stay:

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• Find cheap flights to Wadowice. International airports near Wadowice, Poland. 58 km from  Krakow, Poland (KRK / EPKK) John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice.
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Books written and about about John Paul Pope II. Rosaries, statues and images John Paul Pope II.

Guides and tours in Wadowice:

Expressing thanks for the Polish Pope Karol Wojtyla, you can  visit the following places connected with John Paul II.

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• The basilica named after the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (baptismal chapel, chapel of St Mary of Perpetual Help, papal chapel with a relic of Saint John Paul II)
• The museum – family home of John Paul II
• Secondary school named after Marcin Wadowita (former grammar school attended by Karol Wojtyła)
• The monastery of Carmelite Friars (with a relic of the scapular worn by Saint John Paul II)

On the market in Wadowice, in the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the future Pope prayed many times there in the Chapel of the Holy Family where is a baptismal font at which Karol Wojtyla was baptised 20 May 1920.

In the left nave from the presbytery there is a chapel, in which is placed the miraculous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, blessed by Pope John Paul II – Wadowice – 16 June 1999, during the third visit to the hometown. From the temple chapel is separated by the black bars on which is placed the papal coat of arms and the words Totus Tuus and numerous votive gratefulness made by the faithful as a token of gratitude for graces received. A wonderful picture is in the middle of the altar built in the neo-Gothic 1903. In the corner of the image there is gold, papal rosary. The Latin inscription on the picture – Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

All pilgrims are also kindly invited to participate in the prayer during the novena to Saint John Paul II, which is held every Thursday at 6p.m.

It is in front of the relic of John Paul II that you may also pray and throw lists of various purposes to the specially prepared box to be found on the wall next to the papal chapel. Those purposes are also read out before the beginning of the Eucharist.

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