Pope`s monuments

I have worked on the theme of the Pope’s monuments since 2000. My professor, Lechosław Lameński, was the person who suggested that it could be a great idea to learn something more about the Pope’s monuments. Once he saw a completely unsuccessful monument of the Pope and then he decided that it could be a good idea to explore this subject.

At the beginning I had to find out where the monuments have been erected. I sent many e-mails, wrote hundreds of letters to people I had never met before. I wanted to ask if they knew something about the Pope’s monuments. Gradually I was reaching different dioceses and local governments while completing the list of over 200 monuments. Some of them were found quite surprisingly by my friends and family. 

I prepared the documentation containing the photos of the monuments, along with the information about their sizes and description. During the last five years I have crossed over 5000 kilometers, spending “ages” on trains and buses, travelling by car or on foot. The catalogue of my work contains 227 objects, however since Pope’s death, 30 new ones have been erected.

The great majority of the monuments are situated in the south of Poland, where John Paul II lived and worked, as a priest and bishop. What should be stressed, however, is the fact that the southern Poland is more traditional and faithful than the rest of the country. The oldest monument was built in Autumn 1980 in the yard of the Bishops’ Palace in Cracow. The most beautiful one is situated in Lublin, in the courtyard of the Catholic University of Lublin. It presents the Pope and cardinal Wyszyński who hold each other with respect and devotion. The monument in Kalisz seems to be as interesting as the one in Lublin. It presents John Paul II standing with a little girl.

People erect such monuments to celebrate their relationship with the Pope or with priest Wojtyła as well as to commemorate his visit in a given place. The majority of the monuments were built six years ago. It was the year of Great Jubilee and the anniversary of the most famous pilgrimage when the cream cakes were mentioned. I strongly believe that this work is of great significance as presented findings allow the new designers to avoid the mistakes made by their predecessors. Too many monuments were built too fast and too carelessly. At the moment I am the member of the jury in the Pope’s monument contests which are organised in Chełm and Ostrowiec. I am also a consultant and a supporter in many other centres where I can share my knowledge with other people.

Here you can: view my GuestBook or sign my GuestBook