St. John Paul II was elected Pope on October 16, 1978. During the mass on October 22, 1978, at the beginning of his pontificate, John Paul II pronounced the famous phrase: “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors to Christ! Open to His saving power the confines of States, the economic and political systems, the immense fields of culture, of civilization and of development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows what is in man. Only He knows it!”
JF
![Pope John Paul II greets young pilgrims during WYD 2000](https://zenit.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/WIKI-GMG_2000.jpg)
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS - Archeologo
October 16: Anniversary of St John Paul II
Do not be afraid. Open Wide the Doors to Christ!