Saint John Paul II: The Pope Who Said “Be Not Afraid”
A young man who lost almost everything to war, a pope who helped topple an empire, and a saint whose first words to the world were a promise of courage.
When he stepped onto the balcony as the new pope in 1978, one of the first things he said to a frightened world was: “Be not afraid!”
He had every reason to understand fear. Karol Wojtyła grew up in Poland under Nazi occupation and then communist rule, losing his mother, brother, and father while still young. And yet he became Saint John Paul II — one of the most beloved popes in history, a tireless witness to hope.
His feast is today, October 22. Our hand-painted Miniature Saint Statues collection includes our Pope John Paul II Collectors Edition to keep his courage close to your family.
Who Was Saint John Paul II?
Born in Poland in 1920, Karol Wojtyła worked in a quarry and acted in secret theater during the war, then studied for the priesthood in hiding. He became a priest, a bishop, and in 1978 was elected pope — the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years.
For nearly twenty-seven years he led the Church, traveling to more countries than any pope before him, meeting millions of people, and helping bring a peaceful end to communism in his homeland. He died in 2005 and was canonized a saint in 2014.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9
“Be Not Afraid”
Those three words became the heartbeat of his whole papacy. He had seen war, tyranny, suffering, and even survived an assassination attempt — and still he told the world not to be afraid, but to “open wide the doors to Christ.”
For a child, it is a truth they can carry anywhere: with Jesus beside us, we do not have to be ruled by fear. Courage is not the absence of fear, but trust that God is with us.
A Pope Who Loved the Young
Saint John Paul II had a special love for children and young people. He founded World Youth Day, gathering millions of young Catholics from around the world, and he never stopped believing in them.
He is honored today as a patron of young Catholics and of families — a grandfatherly saint who delights in the faith of the young and cheers them on.
Totus Tuus — Entrusted to Mary
His motto was two Latin words: Totus Tuus — “totally yours” — spoken to the Blessed Mother. He entrusted his whole life, and his whole ministry, to Mary’s care.
It is a beautiful lesson for a home: that the surest place to put our lives is in the hands of Mary, who always leads us to her Son.
A Note for Parents
Teach the three words. “Be not afraid” is a short, powerful prayer for a child facing something scary.
Tell his story. A boy who lost his family and lived through war became a saint of joy — proof that hard beginnings don’t have the last word.
Celebrate the young. John Paul II believed in young people; let his feast be a day to tell your children you believe in them too.
Keep him near. A Pope John Paul II piece from our Miniature Saint Statues collection makes a meaningful Confirmation or graduation gift.
Bringing Saint John Paul II Home
A Pope John Paul II figure on a shelf is a daily reminder to be brave — that a life handed over to Christ can change not only a heart, but the whole world. Our Pope John Paul II Collectors Edition brings that reminder home.
Look for Saint John Paul II among the saints in our hand-painted Miniature Saint Statues collection. And for little ones, our plush collection offers soft companions to pray alongside.
A Prayer with Saint John Paul II
Saint John Paul II,
you faced war, loss, and fear,
and still told the world, “Be not afraid.”
Help our family to open wide the doors to Christ,
to trust him in every trial,
and to give our whole lives, like you, to Mary’s care.
Saint John Paul II, pray for us. Amen.
From a hidden seminary in occupied Poland to the heart of the whole Church, John Paul II lived his own advice. His voice still reaches every family with the same brave promise: be not afraid.
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