Catholic Krakow
“Even from here I look upon Krakow, that Krakow in which every stone and every brick is dear to me”...
John Paul II, Krakow, 10 June 1979
“If there had been no Rome, Krakow would have been Rome,” wrote Giovanni Mucante, papal legate in Krakow, at the end of the sixteenth century. And indeed, in terms of numbers of churches, religious houses and saints, and in view of the profound religiosity of the atmosphere, Krakow might be a second Rome. And as long as the first Rome stands, it remains the historic capital of Poland, and its spiritual and cultural heart. It is a treasury of artworks and historic architecture. St Mary’s Church, with its famous altarpiece by the Nuremberg master Veit Stoss, is undoubtedly one of the most exquisite sacral interiors in Europe. Wawel Cathedral, the venue of the coronations and burials of the Polish kings and home to the relics of St Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland, is a symbol of the historic continuity of the Polish state. For several decades the cathedral was also the metropolitan church of Bishop Karol Wojtyła, now St John Paul II. The Basilica of Divine Mercy in the Krakow district of Łagiewniki, where the grave of St Faustina is visited by millions of pilgrims, is the global centre of the cult of divine mercy.
Krakow – city of catholic saints
Krakow is a city not only of kings but also of saints. In terms of the number of saints and blessed people connected with and buried in Krakow, it is certainly the most “saintly” city in Poland.
Below is a summary of the statistics:
1. Wawel Cathedral:
- St Stanislaus of Szczepanów (+1079)
- St Jadwiga the Queen (+1399)
- Blessed Wincenty Kadłubek (+1223)
2. The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Felician Sisters (6 Smoleńsk Street)
- Blessed Maria Angela Truszkowska (+1899)
3. The Collegiate Church of St Anne (Św. Anny Street)
- St John of Kęty (+1473)
4. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (20 Kopernika Street)
- Blessed Jan Beyzym (+1912)
5. The Basilica of the Holy Trinity, Dominican Fathers (12 Stolarska Street)
- St Hyacinth O.P. (+1257)
6. The Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, Franciscan Fathers (2 Franciszkańska Street)
- Blessed Salomea (+1268)
- Blessed Aniela Salawa (+1922)
7. The Church of St Bernard of Siena, Bernardine Fathers (2 Bernardyńska Street)
- St Simon of Lipnica (+1482)
- Blessed Anastazy Pankiewicz (+1942)
8. Corpus Christi Church (26 Bożego Ciała Street)
- St Stanislaus of Kazimierz (+1489)
9. The Albertine Sisters’ Sanctuary Ecce Homo (10 Woronicza Street)
- St Albert Chmielowski (+1916)
- Blessed Bernardyna Maria Jabłońska (+1940)
10. The Church of SS Augustine and John the Baptist, Premonstratensian Sisters (88 Kościuszki Street)
- Blessed Bronisława (+1259)
11. Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki (3-6 Siostry Faustyny Street)
- St Faustina Kowalska (+1938)
12. The Church of SS John the Baptist and John the Evangelist
- Blessed Zofia Czeska (+1650)