NEW BOOK: COINS AND MEDALS OF JOURNEYS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 37, 2026, Article 6

A new book in Spanish has just been published. It is titled MONEDAS Y MEDALLAS CONMEMORATIVAS DE LOS VIAJES APOSTÓLICOS DEL PAPA JUAN PABLO II.

The new book describes commemorative coins and medals issued during and after the travels of Pope John Paul II to different countries of the world. The book describes not only those commemorative pieces but also provides information on the issues dealt with by the Pope in each country or city visit. As such it is a unique publication that combines numismatics and Papal interventions.

The eBook covers the first fifty such trips undertaken by Pope John Paul II between 1978 and 1991. A second part, covering the other official trips he made through 2005 -- the year of his death -- is under preparation and should be issued shortly.

The eBook is available, free of charge, at http://www.academia.edu/.

Thank you. The title translates to "COMMEMORATIVE COINS AND MEDALS OF THE APOSTOLIC JOURNEYS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II." Here is a Google translation of the book's Foreword. -Editor

This book presents the findings of research into the coins and commemorative medals associated with the numerous apostolic journeys undertaken by Pope John Paul II during his pontificate—travels that took him to many countries across the globe.

John Paul II was one of the longest-serving pontiffs to occupy the Chair of Saint Peter, holding the office for a total of 27 years between his election in 1978 and his death in 2005. Indeed, in the authors' view, he was the most influential Pope of the last 75 years. Beyond leading the Church during that period, John Paul II played a pivotal role in the collapse of the Soviet Union and its Marxist-Leninist ideology, securing religious freedom for the faithful behind the Iron Curtain—freedoms that had previously been denied to them. He oversaw the implementation of the decisions of the Second Vatican Council, a gathering in which he had directly participated prior to his election as Pope. Another significant achievement was ensuring that the so-called "people's church"—rooted in leftist ideologies—did not gain traction in Latin America, and preventing Bishop Lefebvre from advancing his version of liberation theology.

Throughout his pontificate, John Paul II undertook numerous apostolic journeys to countries around the world—totaling 107 trips in all—seeking to better understand the situations and needs of various national churches and to bring the Chair of Saint Peter closer to the faithful in those nations.

The first chapter provides background context in the form of a brief biography of Karol Wojtyla, covering the period from his birth until his election as Pope in 1978; this includes his childhood, youth, and studies, his time in the underground seminary in his native country, his ordination as a priest, and his subsequent appointments as bishop, archbishop, and eventually cardinal. The second chapter addresses the book's specific focus: describing the circulating coins he would have known and used, as well as the commemorative medals marking the numerous apostolic journeys he undertook. Furthermore, as a logical complement to this, the chapter includes a summary of the specific activities carried out during each of these trips, offering the reader a comprehensive overview. Thus, the book goes beyond numismatics and the study of medals, extending its scope to the historical aspects of John Paul II's papacy. This research required significant effort, combining an analysis of John Paul II's biography with the details of his activities in each of the countries visited during his pastoral journeys.

Additionally, consulting numismatic and medallic sources was essential to identify the specific coins and medals under study. Key biographical sources regarding the Holy Father included the exhaustive work by journalist George Weigel—titled *Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II* and *The End and the Beginning*—as well as the personal notes of his press secretary, Joaquín Navarro-Valls (*My Years with John Paul II*), and the book *A Pope and a President* by the American author Paul Kengor. Regarding the addresses and speeches John Paul II delivered during his apostolic journeys, the primary source consulted was the Holy See's official website—managed by the Dicastery for Communication—which provides access to the speeches and homilies given on each occasion. Supplementary information on the trips was gathered by consulting the archives of international news agencies—such as the Associated Press and United Press International—as well as newspaper archives from some of the countries visited by the Holy Father.

To identify the commemorative coins and medals featured in the book, the authors consulted specialized numismatic sources, including the search tool ACSEARCH, international auction catalogs—such as MA-SHOPS, Heritage, eBay, and others—and specialized catalogs like those from Numista and Krause. Additionally, images were obtained of pieces from the authors' personal collections, and the authors enlisted the help of distinguished numismatists residing in the countries visited during the Holy Father's travels; these individuals are members of the *Unión Americana de Numismáticos* (UNAN)—whose names are cited throughout the text—and the authors gratefully acknowledge their cooperation in identifying certain numismatic pieces.

Thus, the book presents the identification, illustration, and description of coins and medals that existed during Karol Wojtyla's life prior to his papacy, as well as those minted to commemorate the apostolic journeys of John Paul II.