Guest: Mo Guernon, educator and biographer
Pope Saint John Paul II may have stolen everyone’s heart, but his predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who served in that role for only 33 days, has left an incredible legacy of his own. Nicknamed The Smiling Pope, JPI touched Mo Guernon’s heart the moment he stepped onto the loggia. That indelible impression convinced Mo, though still in high school, that he would someday write the pope’s biography. Nearly 50 years later, that thought has come to fruition with the book, Love is a Journey: The Inspiring Life and Legacy of Pope John Paul I.
Pope John Paul I was born into a poor but devout Catholic family in Italy. His poverty became a compass in his priestly legacy after his father gave him permission to become a priest as long as he didn’t forget the poor and downtrodden. He died with that permission letter in his wallet. Mo felt obligated to resurrect this unknown pope (with such luminous popes surrounding him) who had great compassion and humility. By combing the archives and reaching out to those who knew Pope John Paul I best, Guernon paints a living portrait through many firsthand stories of this pope who deeply touched so many people in spite of his short papacy.
Biography: Mo Guernon, a Rhode Island native, grew up in a Catholic home and went to Catholic schools. His faith faltered, however, when he was in college and was reignited while studying JPI. Guernon has been a teacher, administrator, and educational consultant to Catholic as well as public schools. He is a board member of St. Patrick Academy in Providence, as well as past principal of Sacred Heart elementary School in East Providence. Guernon earned his Master’s degree in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. He also did graduate work at Boston College and Providence College. He received his B.A. in history and English from the University of Rhode Island. Mo and his wife, Elizabeth, currently live in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and have three children and four grandchildren.
Resources:
Mo Guernon's website
Love Is a Journey: The Inspiring Life and Legacy of Pope John Paul I
Article, St. Anthony Messenger: “John Paul I’s 33-day Legacy”
Mo Guernon's email address: [email protected]