JOHN PAUL II TO MARK 55 YEARS AS A PRIEST TOMORROW

VATICAN CITY, OCT 31, 2001 (VIS) - Tomorrow, the solemnity of All Saints, Pope John Paul II will celebrate the 55th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood which took place on November 1, 1946 in the cathedral in Krakow, Poland.

In 1996, the Holy Father's golden jubilee was celebrated on November 1 with a concelebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with 700 priests from the diocese of Rome. On November 10, over 1,500 priests from around the world who were also ordained in 1946 concelebrated Mass with the Pope, 116 cardinals and over 100 archbishops and bishops in St. Peter's Basilica.

To mark that 50th anniversary Pope John Paul wrote "Gift and Mystery," a book of memoirs and reflections on his priesthood. It was published November 15 of that year.

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