Annual Meeting of the Board of the Vatican John Paul II Foundation in Rome
Over a hundred scholarships for students, the second edition of the international John Paul II Award, new media challenges, Christian culture in the contemporary world, engaging young people in reflecting on the Pope's teachings, the next John Paul II Days in Rome, the development of the Center for Documentation and Research of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome, the role of the Foundation in changing realities, and the modernization of the Pilgrim House—these are just some of the tasks facing the John Paul II Vatican Foundation this year. These topics will be discussed by the Administrative Council, whose members are coming to Rome for the annual meeting on February 4-5. Participants will include, among others, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, and Bishop Sławomir Oder. The meeting will begin with a morning Eucharist at the tomb of St. John Paul II in the Vatican, presided over by the Metropolitan of Krakow. The Council is chaired by Msgr. Paweł Ptasznik, a long-time close collaborator of the Pope.
What Is the Vatican John Paul II Foundation?
The John Paul II Vatican Foundation is a
church non-profit organization with its official seat in the Vatican.
It was established on October 16, 1981, by a papal decree of John Paul II. It carries out numerous religious, scientific, cultural, and charitable initiatives, including:
- Popularizing and developing the teachings of John Paul II,
- Awarding academic scholarships,
- Taking care of pilgrims coming to Rome,
- Assisting in the formation of lay and clerical persons (especially students),
- Cooperating with international scientific and religious institutions and papal universities,
- Integrating communities involved in popularizing and developing the teachings of the Polish Pope,
- Providing various types of support to projects related to the legacy of John Paul II.
The Foundation achieves its goals through
five units it operates, whose directors present their annual reports and discuss proposals and projects for the coming year during the annual meeting of the Administrative Council. These units are:
- The Documentation and Study Center of the Pontificate of John Paul II in Rome,
- The Pilgrim House (John Paul II Polish House) in Rome,
- The Student House (John Paul II Vatican Foundation Student House) in Lublin,
- The Administrative Secretariat,
- The Media and Events Office.
The above units are managed by: Fr. Andrzej Dobrzyński, Fr. Mateusz Wójcik, Fr. Jan Strzałka SCJ, Fr. Dariusz Giers, and Fr. Tomasz Podlewski.
Support for Students and Pilgrims
The Foundation's
efforts to support youth, academic c 
