The Administrator of Our Foundation Visits Stockholm

On May 17–18, 2025, the Administrator of our Foundation, Monsignor Dariusz Giers, visited Stockholm at the invitation of the local Association of Friends of the John Paul II Foundation. The visit coincided with the 105th anniversary of the birth of our Patron, Saint John Paul II.

The first event on the program was a Holy Mass on Saturday in the Chapel of Divine Mercy, during which Msgr. Giers delivered a homily referencing the historic events taking place in Rome at that time: the funeral of Pope Francis and the election of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.

The next part of the program was a meeting with members of the Association, held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center named after St. John Paul II. The meeting began with a remembrance of the historic 1989 visit of the Polish Pope to Sweden. The current situation of the Association was discussed, and the Administrator shared updates on the Foundation's key initiatives. He also expressed gratitude to the members for their consistent support and regular communication with the Secretariat in Rome. The gathering concluded with the tasting of a traditional Swedish salmon dish and a "papal cake" decorated with the image and coat of arms of Saint John Paul II.

The solemn Eucharistic celebration for the 105th birthday of the Holy Father took place on Sunday, May 18, in the beautiful Church of St. John in central Stockholm. The ceremony began with the procession of the banner of the local Association of Friends of the Foundation. The Mass was presided over by Msgr. Giers and concelebrated by Salesian priests from the Polish Catholic Mission: Fr. Paweł Drążyk, Fr. Marek Brożyna, and Fr. Włodzimierz Kruczkowski.

In his homily, the main celebrant emphasized that Saint John Paul II urged Poles to live a life of dignity and integrity, built on the values of God, honor, and homeland. He noted that these values must be particularly remembered when making choices—both political and personal. Symbolically, that same day marked the first round of the Polish presidential elections.

After the Mass, Msgr. Giers, accompanied by President Dorota Walko and other members of the Association, including former President Bogusława Zaniewicz-Dybeck, visited the Apostolic Nunciature. After a short prayer, they laid flowers at the monument of Saint John Paul II, commemorating his visit to Sweden.

From there, the delegation went to a nearby nursing home run by the Bridgettine Sisters, where John Paul II had stayed during his time in Stockholm. They were able to visit the room and chapel where the Pope had resided.

The Administrator’s visit to Stockholm was a meaningful opportunity to recall the enormous significance of the first-ever visit of a Successor of Saint Peter to Scandinavia and to revisit the sites associated with it. These places remain in the grateful memory of the city’s residents and radiate spiritual energy.