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"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Image of Blessed Pope John Paul II holding his cross crosier in his left hand and his right hand is extended in blessing.
Icon greeting cards are single-fold cards printed on heavy stock, 4.38" x 5.93". The cards are blank inside for your own message or custom imprint and have an explanation of the history and symbolism of the icon printed on the back.
Saint Pope John Paul II
This icon of Saint Pope John Paul II depicts him wearing the ordinary vesture of the Holy Father: the simar, or white cassock with shoulder cape; a white fascia, or sash at the waist; and a white zucchetto, or skull cap. He also wears a red cape tied by braided gold and red cords. Although red is one of the papal colors, white is the primary symbol of the Papacy because of the tradition begun by Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572) who wore his Dominican habit rather than the traditional red robe. On his right finger is the ring known as the Fisher’s Ring, which shows St. Peter in a fishing boat encircled with the Pope’s name. As the successor to St. Peter, he too, is called to be a “fisher of men.” In the Holy Father’s other hand is the Papal Cross, symbolizing the Pope as the Vicar of Christ on earth. The Pontiff’s right hand is raised in a traditional form of blessing used in the Eastern Church. Pope John Paul II was quick to remind Latin Rite Catholics that the Catholic Church breathes with two lungs, those of the Eastern and Western Rites. Soon after the passing of Pope John Paul II, his successor, His Holiness Benedict XVI, decreed that he would waive the waiting period for his cause for sainthood. Upon confirming the first of two miracles attributed to the deceased pontiff’s intercession, Pope Benedict beatified John Paul II on May 1, 2011. Pope John Paul II was canonized along with Pope John XXIII by Pope Francis on April 27th, 2014, the octave day of Easter which Pope John Paul II had designated in 2000 as Divine Mercy Sunday in the Roman Calendar. Pope Francis' remarks on the day of canonization summarize well the lives of these holy men: "May both of them teach us not to be scandalized by the wounds of Christ and to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of divine mercy, which always hopes and always forgives, because it always loves."
