His Famed Encyclical “Evangelium Vitae [The Gospel of Life]”, Signed by Saint Pope John Paul II For a Catholic Theologian
The only Papal Encyclical signed by John Paul II that we can find ever having been offered for sale
Pope John Paul II was a groundbreaking pontiff in many ways. He was the first modern non-Italian Pope, the first to bring his papacy to the people, and played a major role in the downfall of Communism and freeing of Eastern Europe. He was declared a saint in 2014, and many hail...
Pope John Paul II was a groundbreaking pontiff in many ways. He was the first modern non-Italian Pope, the first to bring his papacy to the people, and played a major role in the downfall of Communism and freeing of Eastern Europe. He was declared a saint in 2014, and many hail him as “John Paul II the Great”. This is a signal honor indeed, as only three other popes regularly have “the Great” appended to their names: Pope St. Leo I (reigned 440–61), Pope St. Gregory I (590–604), and Pope St. Nicholas I (858–67).
On March 25, 1995, John Paul II promulgated his famous encyclical, “Evangelium Vitae [The Gospel of Life]”, dealing with issues pertaining to the sanctity of human life, including murder, abortion, euthanasia, and capital punishment. It was intended to be the authoritative word on these issues, to clarify what would be sinful and what not, and contained doctrine that was infallible either via his Papal authority, or under the authority of the scriptures and Church practice from time immemorial. At one point it makes a pronouncement “by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, and in communion with the Bishops of the Catholic Church…”
When the encyclical was issued, a young American was studying at a seminary in Rome for the Catholic priesthood, and he obtained a copy in English. On May 11, 1995, he met the Pope, who signed and dated that copy for him using his name in Latin – “Joannes Paulus II, 11.V.95.” The seminarian is now a theologian at a Catholic college, and we obtained this directly from him. It has never before been offered for sale. A photograph of this theologian meeting the Pope on that day in May of 1995 is attached.
We have diligently searched public sale records going back 40 years and cannot find another encyclical signed by Pope John Paul II, nor can we recall ever seeing one. Thus, this is an extraordinary rarity, and perhaps unique.
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