Pontifical University of John Paul II

The Pontifical University of John Paul II (Polish: Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawła II w Krakowie) is an academic institution located in Kraków, Poland, that offers graduate degrees in theology, philosophy, and church history. It derived from the theology faculty of Jagiellonian University established in 1397. The theology faculty was expelled from the university by Communist authorities in 1954. Remaining under the supervision of the Vatican, the faculty received the honorific title of "Pontifical" in 1974 and was established as an Academy of Theology by Pope John Paul II in 1981 before becoming the Pontifical University of John Paul II in 2009.

History

Foundation of the Faculty

The Faculty of Theology at the Kraków Academy (now Jagiellonian University) was first established at the request of Queen Jadwiga and her husband Jagiełło. On 11 January 1397 Pope Boniface IX signed a bull patent allowing for the foundation of the Faculty. In the restoration act of 26 July 1400 the Faculty of Theology was listed as the most important faculty of the Academy. Professors of the Faculty were involved in the christianization of Lithuania. In 1817 Kraków Academy became Jagiellonian University in commemoration of Poland's Jagiellonian dynasty.

Throughout the existence of the Kingdom of Poland and further, during the partitions, and after the return to independence in 1918, most rectors of the Kraków Academy were drawn from theologians, who would become its most prominent personalities. Thanks to their reputation and the greatest number of students, the Academy was one of the main centres of Polish theological learning.

During World War II many professors of the Faculty were prisoners of the Nazi concentration camps. In spite of wartime repressions and deaths, underground education was carried out. In 1945 the teaching staff of the Faculty included professors from the Polish Eastern borderlands (i.e. Lvov).

After the expulsion

In 1954 the Faculty of Theology was removed from the university by an edict of the communist Cabinet. However, the Vatican issued a decree in 1959 stating that the Faculty of Theology "remains under the supervision of one ecclesiastic authority and in the future is to be formed according to the laws passed by the Apostolic see".^[1] In 1974 owing to the efforts of Cardinal Karol Wojtyła, the Archbishop of Kraków and future Pope John Paul II, the Faculty was bestowed the honourable title Pontifical.^[2]

The Pontifical Academy of Theology was established by Pope John Paul II on 8 December 1981, when he issued a motu proprio document entitled "Beata Hedvigis" prescribing that the Pontifical Academy be derived from an age-old Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University.^[3]

In 1988 Włodzimierz Siedlik formed the Psalmodia Choir at the Liturgy Institute, and this was officially recognised as the choir of the Academy in 1996.

On 19 June 2009 by virtue of the decision of Pope Benedict XVI^[4] the Academy became the Pontifical University of John Paul II.

Today

The Pontifical University of John Paul II carries on the traditions of the Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University. It co-sponsors the international Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in science, and fosters scholarly works oriented toward bridging the gap between the natural sciences and the humanities.^[5]

People

Michał Heller, recipient of the 2008 Templeton Prize, was a significant figure in the establishment of the Academy and continues to teach there today. Also associated with the Faculty in its early days were Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) and Józef Życiński.

Organizational structure

Faculties

• Theology
• Philosophy
• Church history

Faculties include institutes, sometimes inter-departmental, with one or more specializations:

• Institute of Bioethics ^[6][7]
• Institute of Ecumenism and Dialogue
• Language School
• Postgraduate Studies of Journalism

Enrollment

The Academy confers the degrees of master, licentiate, doctor and habilitated doctor. The faculties cooperate with numerous universities in Poland and abroad by organizing various symposia, sessions and interdisciplinary seminars, some of them international.

See also

• Religion in Poland
• Roman Catholicism

Footnotes

References

• Pontifical University of John Paul II, homepage
• The Holy See's motu proprio list of Pope John Paul II

Pope Saint John Paul II 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005 Pope (1978–2005) Archbishop of Kraków (1963–1978) Timeline Emilia Wojtyła (mother) Karol Wojtyła (father) Early life Papal conclave Assassination attempt Funeral dignitaries Beatification and Canonisation Acts as Pope Apologies Cardinals created People venerated People beatified Saints canonized Papal mediation in the Beagle conflict Pastoral visits Ireland Nicaragua United Kingdom World Day of the Sick World Youth Day Relations Eastern Orthodox Church Judaism Other topics Abbà Pater Criticism Family home (historic house) Health John Paul II Foundation Monuments Tiara   Bibliography Teachings Apostolic constitutions Sacrae Disciplinae Leges Pastor Bonus Ex Corde Ecclesiae Fidei depositum Universi Dominici gregis Apostolic exhortations Catechesi tradendae Familiaris consortio Reconciliatio et paenitentia Christifideles laici Redemptoris custos Pastores dabo vobis Ecclesia in America Ecclesia in Asia Ecclesiastical letters Dominicae Cenae Ordinatio Sacerdotalis Letter to Women Ad tuendam fidem Novo Millennio Ineunte Misericordia Dei Rosarium Virginis Mariae Encyclicals Redemptor hominis Dives in misericordia Laborem exercens Slavorum Apostoli Dominum et vivificantem Redemptoris Mater Sollicitudo rei socialis Redemptoris Missio Centesimus annus Veritatis splendor Evangelium vitae Ut Unum Sint Fides et Ratio Ecclesia de Eucharistia Books Love and Responsibility Crossing the Threshold of Hope Memory and Identity Other writings The Jeweler's Shop Theology of the Body "Roman Triptych" Testament Documents endorsed Catechism of the Catholic Church Quattuor Abhinc Annos We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah Dominus Iesus Related Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah Political views Scriptural Way of the Cross   Eponymous places In popular culture High schools (United States) East Boca Raton, FL Tallahassee, FL Jasper, IN Slidell, LA Hyannis, MA Royersford, PA Hendersonville, TN Corpus Christi, TX Plano, TX Schertz, TX Dumfries, VA Lacey, WA Other high schools London, Canada Toronto, Canada Greymouth, New Zealand Rotorua, New Zealand Tarnów, Poland Brasília, Brazil Colleges Universities John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin John Paul II Institute John Paul II Minor Seminary John Paul the Great Catholic University Pontifical University of John Paul II Pope John Paul II College of Education Airports Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport João Paulo II Airport John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice Bridges El Puente del Papa John Paul II Bridge, Puławy Juan Pablo II Bridge Third Millennium John Paul II Bridge Other places Saint John Paul II National Shrine Ioannes Paulus II Peninsula John Paul II Catholic School John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization John Paul II Foundation for Research and Treatment Museum of John Paul II and Primate Wyszyński Museum of John Paul II Collection Pope John Paul II Park Reservation Films Pope John Paul II The Papal Chase Have No Fear: The Life of Pope John Paul II The Pope's Toilet Nine Days that Changed the World TV miniseries Pope John Paul II Karol: A Man Who Became Pope Karol: The Pope, The Man In Search of the Pope's Children Other media The Planet Is Alive...Let it Live! Red Rabbit The Pope's Children Credo: John Paul II Book Commons

Coordinates: 50°3′34″N 19°56′05″E / 50.05944°N 19.93472°E / 50.05944; 19.93472