Blessed John Paul II and St. Teresa of Child Jesus have been chosen among the patrons and 13 intercessors of the World Youth Day celebrations next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Each one, who allowed him or herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit, is an example to follow for all people, especially young people,” said Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, the president of the WYD 2012 organizing committee. “We place all the young people who will come to Rio de Janeiro in the hands of God and Mary, and of the patron saints and intercessors,” he said during his announcement.

John Paul II traveled to Colombia in 1986. Over the course of seven days he visited 11 cities. It's been 26 years since then, but those who were present for that trip still remember it as if it were yesterday.

César Mauricio Velásquez, Colombia's ambassador to the Vatican has compiled some of the memories of that trip in his book “John Paul II, in the heart of Colombia”.

In unforgettable style, Joanna Bogle talks with Doug about her latest effort: an eminently readable, instructive, inspiring children's biography on Blessed John Paul the Great. Your under-12 crowd will love it, and as a read-aloud, little ones will enjoy the illustrations and want to hear the story again and again.

Blessed John Paul II was declared as the patron of his own home town – Wadowice. Pope Benedict XVI signed an appropriate decree on this matter.

Official Blessed John Paul II patronage over Wadowice will be given on May 18^th at the 92^nd birthday celebrations of Karol Wojtyla in Wadowice.  At that time, the Archbishop of Krakow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz will present the decree signed by the Pope to the city authorities.