“Young people of every continent, do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium!”

— Pope John Paul II, Message to the Youth of the World for the 15th World Youth Day, 1999

About Pope John Paul II

1920 – 2005

Polish-born pope who led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.

“Remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm and look forward to the future with confidence.”

“A person's rightful due is to be treated as an object of love, not as an object for use.”

“Only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of true love.”

“Our freedom to doubt was born out of a struggle against authority in the early days of science.”

“The older I grow, the more I distrust the familiar doctrine that age brings wisdom.”

“Don't be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise.”

“The instructions of an old man are precious.”

“Old age deprives the intelligent man only of qualities useless to wisdom.”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”