Saint John Paul II National Shrine facts for kids
 |
|
East front of the Saint John Paul II National Shrine (2017)
|
|
| Established | 2014 (as Saint John Paul II National Shrine), 2011 (as Blessed John Paul II Shrine), 2001 (as Pope John Paul II Cultural Center) |
|---|---|
| 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 Catholics to pray, but it also welcomes people of all beliefs.
Inside the shrine, you can explore a permanent exhibit called A Gift of Love: the Life of Saint John Paul II. There is also the Redemptor Hominis Church and the Luminous Mysteries Chapel. Both of these beautiful spaces are decorated with mosaic art. Daily Mass is held in the Redemptor Hominis Church. The Luminous Mysteries Chapel holds a special item called a first-class relic of Saint John Paul II.
The building is very large, about 130,000 square feet (12,000 square meters). It sits on 12 acres (4.9 hectares) of land. It is located next to The Catholic University of America and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the Brookland area of Northeast Washington.
History of the Shrine
The building that is now the Saint John Paul II National Shrine was once known as the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center. The idea for this center came from a meeting in 1989 between Pope John Paul II and Bishop Adam Maida. Bishop Maida suggested building a place like a U.S. presidential library to honor the Pope. However, the Pope thought it would be better to create a center for discussing different faiths.
The cultural center was planned to be a museum and a Catholic think tank (a group that does research and gives advice). It aimed to explore how faith and culture connect through interactive displays, academic talks, and museum exhibits.
Building the Center
In 1990, Bishop Maida became the Archbishop of Detroit. He began raising money for the project. About $50 million was collected from thousands of people. The Archdiocese of Detroit also helped by lending money and guaranteeing a mortgage. The entire building project cost $75 million.
The center officially opened in March 2001. Important people like President George W. Bush, several cardinals, and members of Congress attended the opening ceremony.
After it opened, the center faced some challenges. There was an economic slowdown, and fewer tourists visited Washington after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Because of these difficulties, the center eventually closed to the public, only opening by appointment. In 2009, the center was put up for sale.
The Knights of Columbus Take Over
On August 2, 2011, Carl A. Anderson, who leads the Knights of Columbus, announced that their Catholic organization would buy the Cultural Center. Their plan was to turn it into a religious shrine dedicated to the memory of John Paul II, who was then called "Blessed John Paul II."
Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, quickly declared the building a diocesan shrine. The Knights paid $22.7 million for the property.
From the moment the Knights of Columbus took over, Mass was celebrated almost every day at the shrine. A simple exhibit about John Paul II was also made available for visitors.
Over the next five years, the Knights of Columbus made huge changes to the building. They built a large 16,000 square foot (1,500 square meter) exhibit about John Paul II's life and what he taught. They also created two special worship areas on the main floor of the shrine.
On April 14, 2014, the shrine was given a higher status and renamed the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. This happened on the same day that Pope Francis officially declared John Paul II a saint.
In recent years, some concerns have been raised about the artist, Fr. Marko Rupnik, whose mosaics decorate parts of the shrine. The Knights of Columbus have stated they are looking into the best way to handle the art that was installed by his community at the shrine.
See also
In Spanish: Santuario Nacional San Juan Pablo II para niños
