Saint John Paul II National Shrine facts for kids
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East front of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine (2017)
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| Established | 2014 (as Saint John Paul II National Shrine), 2011 (as Blessed John Paul II Shrine), 2001 (as Pope John Paul II Cultural Center) |
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| Location | 3900 Harewood Road NE Washington, D.C. 20017 - 4471 |
| Type | Religious shrine |
| Public transit access |  Brookland–CUA |
The Saint John Paul II National Shrine is a special religious place in Washington, D.C.. It is supported by a group called the Knights of Columbus. This shrine is a place for prayer for Catholics. It also welcomes people of all different faiths.
The Shrine has a permanent exhibit called A Gift of Love: the Life of Saint John Paul II. This exhibit teaches visitors about the life of Saint John Paul II. The building also has the Redemptor Hominis Church and the Luminous Mysteries Chapel. Both of these places are decorated with beautiful mosaic art. You can attend Mass daily in the Redemptor Hominis Church. The Luminous Mysteries Chapel holds a special item, called a first-class relic, from John Paul II.
The building is very large, about 130,000-square-foot (12,000 m2). It sits on 12 acres (4.9 ha) of land. It is located next to The Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. This area is in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington.
Contents
History of the Shrine
The building that is now the Saint John Paul II National Shrine once housed the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. The idea for this center began in 1989. Pope John Paul II met with Bishop Adam Maida of Green Bay. Bishop Maida suggested building a place like a U.S. presidential library for the pope. However, the pope thought it would be better to create a center. This center would explore how faith and different cultures connect.
Building the Cultural Center
In 1990, Bishop Maida became the Archbishop of Detroit. He started raising money for the project. Many thousands of people donated about $50 million. The Archdiocese of Detroit also helped with loans. The entire complex cost $75 million to build.
The center opened to the public in March 2001. Important people attended the opening. These included President George W. Bush, several cardinals, and members of Congress. The center was meant to be a museum and a Catholic "think tank." A think tank is a group that does research and discusses important ideas. The center aimed to explore faith and culture through exhibits and discussions.
However, the center faced challenges. There was an economic slowdown. Also, fewer tourists visited Washington after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Because of these difficulties, the center eventually closed. It only opened for special appointments. In 2009, the center was put up for sale.
The Knights of Columbus Take Over
On August 2, 2011, the Knights of Columbus announced they would buy the Cultural Center. The Knights of Columbus is a large Catholic group. They planned to turn the building into a religious shrine. It would be dedicated to the memory of John Paul II, who was then called "Blessed John Paul II."
The Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, quickly declared it a diocesan shrine. The Knights paid $22.7 million for the building. From the start, Mass was celebrated almost every day at the Shrine. A simple exhibit about John Paul II was also available to visitors.
Over the next five years, the Knights of Columbus made big changes. They built a large, 16,000 square foot exhibit. This exhibit tells the story of John Paul II's life and his impact. They also created two special prayer areas on the main floor.
On April 14, 2014, John Paul II became a saint. On that same day, the shrine was given a new, higher status. It became a national shrine. Its name was changed to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.
In 2022, some concerns were raised about the artist, Rev. Marko Rupnik, who designed the mosaics. People asked if his art should be removed from the shrine. The Knights of Columbus said they were thinking carefully about what to do. In July 2024, it was announced that Rupnik's mosaics in the two chapels would be covered. A final decision about the art is still being considered.
See also
In Spanish: Santuario Nacional San Juan Pablo II para niños
