Pope John Paul II has accomplished so much during his pontificate that he may one day be given the title “John Paul the Great” by the Universal Church. He has been seen by vast numbers of people around the world, gathering the largest single assembly of people in human history, — over 5 million in the Philippines — gathering millions of the young and electrifying them. He has written and taught by numerous encyclicals and apostolic documents on Jesus Christ, the truth of the Gospel, the creed, natural law, human reason, sacredness of life, and social justice.
In this book, John Paul II: the Great Mercy Pope, we will see how the Holy Father has not only taught about God’s mercy, but also how he has lived out the message of mercy by the witness of his life. In his writing, teaching, preaching, and by his prayer, his forgiveness, his radiating presence and his ministry to the sick and poor, he reflects God’s mercy. The very themes of his pontificate are mercy themes: his challenge, “Do not be afraid!” his call to holiness, to evangelization, to ecumenism; his entrustment to The Divine Mercy and to the Mother of Mercy; the Jubilee Year of mercy; his continued emphasis on the value and dignity of every human being. For all these things, John Paul II has shown himself to be the Mercy Pope. His whole life, therefore, should be an example for the world and a challenge to each individual to be merciful as our heavenly Father is merciful.