St John Paul II, We Love You - Totus2us

Steve, from the US, went to World Youth Day Denver in 1993 and his life was dramatically changed by God through the witness of JPII: 'He never lied to us and he never let us down.' JPII, at WYD Denver: "Dear young people, with a spirit of generous self-giving, recognise that you are directly involved in the new evangelisation which demands the involvement of all of us. Proclaim Christ who died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for him who for their sakes died and was raised up." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Robert, from the UK, was introduced to JPII when, aged 17, he read the Pope's encyclical Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason). He describes here how this led him to the Catholic Church and picks out some of the moments in JP2's life that have particularly inspired and encouraged him. JPII, in Fides et Ratio: "Truth and freedom either go hand in hand or perish in misery." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

James, from New Zealand, lists JPII's legacy of the World Youth Day, his devotion to Our Lady, how in his old age he showed how those who are suffering are important, and how he was never afraid to preach the Gospel. JPII, in his first speech as Pope, "Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Sr Hyacinthe OP, 1 of the Totus2us team, is from France. One of the things she loves most about JPII was his fearlessness, giving the subject of her Masters Degree in History as an example - his role in building a church in Nova Hota. Another reason is because of his teaching, philosophical and theological, particularly about the human person. Karol Wojtyla, from his book Love and Responsibility: "The human person is a good towards which the only proper attitude is love." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Nathan, from Brazil, talks about his memories of JP2 at World Youth Day Toronto. JPII, at JMJ 2002: "You are our hope, the young are our hope. Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures - we are the sum of the Father's love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Elaine, from Australia, was first introduced to John Paul II when a friend recommended she read his Letter to Women, which deeply impressed her. Then another friend recommended she read his Theology of the Body. She remembers thinking 'Wow. I can't believe it. I've found the meaning to life. This is just incredible.' She just knew it was the truth and wished she'd known about it growing up. One of the many great lessons she learnt from reading lots about John Paul II was his compassion and dignity for all human life. JPII: "True compassion leads to sharing another's pain. It does not kill the person whose suffering we cannot bear." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus2us.

Marina, from Croatia, has thought of JPII as a true part of her family ever since her grandmother met him early on in his Papacy. She also recalls his visit to Croatia in 1994. JPII: "Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are Easter people and Alleluia is our song." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Ruth, from the UK, recalls her time with JP2: on his visit to England in 1982, WYDs '93 and '97 in Denver and Paris, and the Eucharistic Congress in Rome in the Jubilee Year. JPII, in his encyclical Redeemer of Man: "The man who wishes to understand himself thoroughly must with his unrest, uncertainty and even his weakness and sinfulness, with his life and death, draw near to Christ." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus 2us.

Kathy, from the Philippines, didn't get to know JP2 in his life but, thanks to WYD 2008 got to learn of his teachings on the theology of the body, which has transformed the way she sees things. JPII: "True holiness does not mean a flight from the world; rather, it lies in the effort to incarnate the Gospel in everyday life." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus2us.

Mili, from Peru, describes JP2's amazing apostolic visit to Peru in 1985. Her chosen quote is JPII's response to the young people who'd come to be with him in St Peter's Square in Easter Week 2005. JPII: "I sought you out and now you come to me. Thank you." Music by Mike Mangione. Visit Totus2us.com for much more. Totus Tuus (All Yours) was Pope John Paul II's apostolic motto to Mary. Our Lady is also everything to us - Totus2us.