History

The John Paul II Pontificate's Center for Documentation and Research belongs to the Vatican John Paul II Foundation, established on 16 October 1981 by the Pope. The Center’s seat is located in the Polish Home, Via Cassia 1200, Rome. Pilgrim trails from all over the world lead to the Eternal City, where the roads of history and the present meet.

St. Peter’s Successor’s wish was to give testimony to the presence of Polish culture of Rome’s christian legacy and to accentuate his presence in the Church. Since the beginning, the Center’s aim was to provide comprehensive documentation and profound research regarding the pontificate of the Polish Pope. This seems the best way to enrich the christian legacy and join the dialogue of cultures. This task corresponds well to the genius of such place as the capital of christianity and such sign of the times as the pontificate of John Paul II.

Through its activities, the Center is trying to make the work and thought of John Paul II a historical challenge on only for the future generations, as they are for us now. The collected testimonies and undertaken research both enrich the christian legacy and provide motivation to thank God for all good that was brought by the person of John Paul II.

Collection and elaboration of available documents includes archives, the library and the museum. John Paul II’s work is spread through publication work, notably bibliographic research, as well as organization of symposia, conferences and exhibitions and cooperation with other similar institutions. A reading room is available for perusal of library collections.

The Center is divided into two sections: documentation and study. The activities of the Center are supervised by the John Paul II Foundation. Collection of works and functioning of the Center is made possible by help and generosity of many people from Poland and from all over the world.