The idea of Papal Evenings, as it often happens, was developing gradually. At the time of my arrival to Rome, two years ago, when my husband was appointed as the Permanent Representative of Poland to FAO, I realized that after so many years of close, almost family, relationship with John Paul II, after my studies and many works written about His philosophy and poetry, I wanted so much over here, in Rome, this undertaking that was and still is my great fascination as well as my eternal, unpaid debt of gratitude and love for the Pope – continue.

The vigil before John Paul II’s beatification was an intoxicating experience for one new convert. I wish I could have gone.

Catholic World Report has an article in its June edition about the beatification of Pope John Paul II. For the Saturday evening vigil in preparation for the beatification ceremony the next day, over 200,000 people listened to music, testimony and prayer honouring the late pope. The report comments that among the testimonies, “Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the former director of the Vatican press office, remarked that in beatifying John Paul II the Church would not be making him a saint but acknowledging his sanctity since ‘one is a saint in life or never will be.’ The long-time papal spokesman said he had an indelible memory of the late pope’s respect for the transcendent character of the person… and this respect is something that, once experienced alongside someone like him, one can never forget.”

Frank Klees was the first Member of Parliament who initiated a plan to establish the 2nd of April as John Paul II Day. His idea was met with great approval of all members of Parliament. This information was given to all in the Biuletyn/Newsletter in June 2009.

This year Tony Ruprecht once more tabled his private member's bill, An Act to declare John Paul II Day in the Province of Ontario on 2nd of April. Tony Ruprecht and many other members of Parliament gathered on May 18th to commemorate 90th Birthday of the late Pope John Paul II. It was a gathering reminiscing His greatness throughout His 27 years of the Great Pontificate.

After the success of the first John Paul II Film Festival, organizers are now preparing for the second such event, scheduled for February 2011.

The American production company 7eventhDay Media Inc. started this initiative last year as a way to promote values, as expressed by John Paul II in strengthening faith through art.