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Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II
Redemptor Hominis: The Redeemer of Man
This document lays a blueprint for the activity and teaching of John Paul II's pontificate, exploring contemporary human problems and proposing solutions rooted in a deeper understanding of the person--both of the human person, and that of Christ. Significant topics include: a critique of atheistic governments and the right to religious freedom; a missionary message; an affirmation of Christ's union with each person; the value of technological progress; and the imbalance of economic resources.
104 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 1979
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About the author
Pope John Paul II
1,046 books635 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 12, 2014
One of his best. You will thank yourself for reading any of his works.
July 22, 2025
In short, Jesus still thinks human being are worth redeeming. And that’s pretty cool.
May 21, 2020
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's birth I read his first encyclical which outlined his basic philosophy...still very clear and inspiring today.
January 26, 2022
A very important encyclical that is remarkable for its prescience.
This is what it notes
"The man of today seems ever to be under threat from what he produces, that is to say from the result of the work of hís hands and, even more so, of the work of his intellect and the tendencies of his will. Man therefore lives increasingly in fear
Why is it that the power given to man from the beginning by which he was to subdue the earth turns against himself, producing an understandable state of disquiet, of conscious or unconscious fear and of menace, which in various ways is being communicated to the whole of the present-day human family and is manifesting itself under various aspects?"
This is what it notes
"The man of today seems ever to be under threat from what he produces, that is to say from the result of the work of hís hands and, even more so, of the work of his intellect and the tendencies of his will. Man therefore lives increasingly in fear
Why is it that the power given to man from the beginning by which he was to subdue the earth turns against himself, producing an understandable state of disquiet, of conscious or unconscious fear and of menace, which in various ways is being communicated to the whole of the present-day human family and is manifesting itself under various aspects?"
April 3, 2023
Jako dumny wadowiczanin, postanowiłem rzucić okiem na jakiś tekst Jana Pawła II z okazji ponownego odgrzewania dramy, z której South Park śmiał się już w 2002 roku, a także przy okazji rocznicy jego śmierci. No i jestem pozytywnie zaskoczony, bo chociaż nie ze wszystkim się zgadzam, to jednak pada tu sporo tez, z którymi zgodzić się bardzo łatwo. Po prostu nie spodziewałem się, że to akurat TE tezy. Minusem jest oczywiście idealistyczna naiwność, której nie sposób przeskoczyć, ani nie zderzyć z hipokryzjami kościoła na niektórych polach, ale overall jeśli ktoś chciałby zobaczyć Jana Pawła II z nieco innej strony, to ta encyklika jest dobrym początkiem.
January 6, 2025
I am slowly working my way through all of John Paul II's encyclicals.
This was the first encyclical of John Paul II's pontificate. I was surprised to see how strongly he linked everything to Vatican II. It wasn't strong-armed in, just a continual touchpoint as he touched on the special needs of our times and the truth about man's nature and our relationship to Jesus. As JPII says, "Christ the Redeemer fully reveals man to himself." A rich reflection that is still very relevant to our time.
This was the first encyclical of John Paul II's pontificate. I was surprised to see how strongly he linked everything to Vatican II. It wasn't strong-armed in, just a continual touchpoint as he touched on the special needs of our times and the truth about man's nature and our relationship to Jesus. As JPII says, "Christ the Redeemer fully reveals man to himself." A rich reflection that is still very relevant to our time.
December 23, 2025
Dokumen gereja pertama dari Paus Yohanes Paulus II tentang penebusan umat manusia oleh Yesus Kristus sebagai penebusan yang menyeluruh. Ada beberapa gagasan ensiklik ini yang bersinggungan dengan tema-tema keadilan sosial, dan berakar dari ASG perdana, Rerum Novarum.
January 7, 2021
Christ the savior in a concise but deep encyclical
August 20, 2022
A great encyclical but JPII's writing style is hard on the eyes/mind.
July 19, 2023
Profound and extremely relevant especially during this time of Synod.
February 28, 2025
John Paul II is a treasure trove of wisdom. i'd vow to read his whole canon!!!!!
December 24, 2024
We read this for book club and it prompted productive discussion.
December 15, 2015
Le dernier document magistériel produit par un pape à propose de la christologie est Redemptor Hominis (1979). Une dizaine d’année après le Concile de Vatican II, saint Jean-Paul II pape de fin 1978 à début 2005, a souhaité apporter un complément d’enseignement sur la personne du Christ et donc sur sa relation avec nous. Le saint pape développe son propos en quatre grandes parties. Il commence par exposer ce qui, dans l’histoire et chez ses prédécesseurs, est signe de la présence de Dieu pour l’homme. Il complète cette partie en insistant sur la nécessité de l’Esprit Saint comme lien d’amour avec nous. Dans la partie qui suit le pape polonais entre plus en avant dans le rôle du Christ quant à sa divinité source, par son incarnation, de notre rédemption. Ainsi il aborde la question du salut de l’homme par la mort du Christ. Dans sa troisième partie saint Jean-Paul II ouvre plus largement sa réflexion aux maux et aux solutions que le monde contemporain nous propose. Pour finir, il rapproche l’homme de l’Église ayant tous un même but : grandir avec les autres en Dieu pour aller vers Dieu.
Cette vision intégrale du Christ et de la vie de chrétien doit inspirer tout homme qui veut vivre mieux, devenir plus humain. Le Christ ne demande qu'à être au coeur de chaque vie pour que l'homme soit au coeur de l'humanité.
Cette vision intégrale du Christ et de la vie de chrétien doit inspirer tout homme qui veut vivre mieux, devenir plus humain. Le Christ ne demande qu'à être au coeur de chaque vie pour que l'homme soit au coeur de l'humanité.
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May 12, 2021Great read from Pope St. John Paul II! I benefitted from his insight on the responsibility of the priesthood to be in touch with the changing tides of modern-day culture and how each aspect may be building up the Body of Christ or taking away from His Mystical Body.
January 20, 2022
John Paul II’s announcement to us of the aim of his pontificate was to tell us that Jesus died for each of. This short encyclical really set the tone for all the great things John Paul II would end up doing.
November 18, 2014
The second book in our faculty book discussion this academic year. Not as optimistic of an outlook on the world as Gaudium et Spes, but still intriguing and worth the discussion.
January 24, 2017
Forceful first outing from JPII.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews