The Pilgrim's Way: The Dignity Of The Human Person

As we prepare for the feast of Saint John Paul II, we invite you to continue on this pilgrimage through our permanent exhibit, A Gift of Love: The Life of Saint John Paul II. We hope you will walk through each of the nine galleries with us, so that you can get a taste of the spiritual and informational journey that awaits you here at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.

This week we will explore the sixth gallery: The Dignity of the Human Person. Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God, and from Him we each receive irreducible worth and dignity. In an increasingly utilitarian world, St. John Paul II tirelessly defended this truth about the person.

The late Holy Father preached a Gospel of Life, calling the Church to defend those like the unborn, the sick, the elderly, and victims of war and genocide. He reminded us to defend and serve every human person as we would Christ, who reveals to us what is truest about man.

This gallery presents the impact of John Paul II’s defense of the human person, his contribution to the fall of communism, his calls to young people during World Youth Days, his encounters with world political and religious leaders, and his leadership during the Great Jubilee 2000. Political, personal and spiritual freedom is all grounded in the truth about the human person, and in respecting human dignity, we build up a “civilization of love.”

World Youth Days are one of John Paul II’s legacies that live on today. These events still draw young people together from around the world, strengthening them in faith, hope, and love for Christ and others. The sainted pontiff challenged young World Youth Day pilgrims to listen to Jesus’s call for them, choosing His way of truth over the seemingly easy ways of the world.

The interactive table display in this gallery invites visitors to learn about the experiences of young people at World Youth Day pilgrimages in Rome, Denver, Toronto, Manila, Częstochowa, and Paris.

St. John Paul II is also remembered for leading the Church into the third Christian millennium. Through images, film, and quotes, pilgrims can journey with him through the Great Jubilee events. This includes his pilgrimage to the Holy Land and his encounters with pilgrims in Rome.

Now that we are well into the third millennium, are there ways for you to live the Gospel of Life and build up the civilization of love, as St. John Paul II did? Ponder this as you continue on pilgrimage with us.

St. John Paul II, Pray for Us!