On 16th October, 1978, KAROL WOJTYLA, Cardinal-Archbishop of Krakow, was elected Pope by the College of Cardinals and took the name John Paul, in tribute to his immediate predecessor. His election had not been expected and few people had ever heard of him.
After several years of debilitating ill-health, Pope John Paul died on 2nd April, 2005 at the age of 84, and was buried in S' Peter's Basilica. After his death, he was dubbed popularly, John Paul the Great. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, Beatified John Paul II on 1st May, 2011.
This post includes some liturgical images of Blessed John Paul II. They illustrate the changed aesthetic for Papal vestments which emerged during the 1980's and 1990's. The austerely decorated and unlined papal vestments of the 1970's were set aside in favour of vestments which were more imaginative in design, rich in colour and made from better quality fabrics.
Click on the images for an enlarged view.
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| Ash Wednesday in the Basilica of Santa Sabina. A magnificant cope in violet silk, decorated with handwork in silver. The mitre matches the vestments, being suitably sombre for Lent. |
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| A chasuble of violet dupion-silk. |
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| Pope John Paul II wearing an elaborate chasuble of green, beautifully ornamented. The chasubles used by John Paul II during the course of his Pontificate became increasingly more ornate, and well-designed, setting aside the austere Papal aesthetic of the 1970's. |
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| A quite different chasuble in an unusual shade of green. A mitre tastefully decorated with handwork. The more tasteful Papal aesthetic of the 1980's and 1990's. |
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| A somewhat rare occasion: Pope John Paul in full Pontificals of the Roman style including the Papal fanon. |
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| A Papal Mass on the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul. The Pope is wearing a reproduction of the well-known Four Evangelists mitre. |
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| Easter in the year 1999. A special form of the pallium was used - only once - by the Pope. See the photograph below. |
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| An exhibit in the Vatican Museum which shews the special pallium which had been made for the use of Pope John Paul. The pallium was only used the once. Visually, it is superior to the different forms of pallia used by Pope Benedict. |
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| Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II |
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| The Funeral of Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter's Square 8th April 2005: one of the most famous funerals in history. |
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| The casket bearing the mortal remains of John Paul II is venerated by the members of the College of Cardinals in S' Peter's Basilica on the day of his Beatification, 1st May 2011. |
