Archbishop George must have been surprised in early April 1997 when Pope John Paul II appointed him to succeed Cardinal Joseph Bernardin as the archbishop of Chicago.

Source: https://catholicmessenger.net/2023/08/a-good-shepherd-new-biography-about-cardinal-francis-george-of-chicago/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-good-shepherd-new-biography-about-cardinal-francis-george-of-chicago

Having been ordained on 24 May 1964 and consecrated as a Bishop on 4 May 1980 in Kinshasa, DR Congo by Pope John Paul II, the clergyman served as Bishop in Juba, Torit, and Tadamata from 1980-1983.

Source: https://www.eyeradio.org/late-bishop-emeritus-paride-taban-laid-to-rest/

“I think the partnership of Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope John Paul II was one of the most brilliant in papal history,” Cardinal Pell said in our last interview.

Source: https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/remembering-cardinal-george-pell-personal-reflections

Let’s remember that Pope John Paul II said so, unequivocally at the time.

Source: https://catholicoutlook.org/fr-frank-brennans-homily-2-april-2023/

Pope Benedict XVI said, “After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble laborer in the vineyard of the Lord.

Source: https://georgiabulletin.org/commentary/2023/01/reflections-on-pope-emeritus-benedict-xvi/

Pope John Paul II and the Catholic Church in Uruguay later absolved the survivors of any wrongdoing, per France 24.

Source: https://1010wcsi.com/fox-news/survivor-of-1972-plane-crash-who-resorted-to-cannibalism-to-survive-in-andes-mountains-speaks-out/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=survivor-of-1972-plane-crash-who-resorted-to-cannibalism-to-survive-in-andes-mounta

They traveled to downtown Los Angeles to get a glimpse of Pope John Paul II.

Source: https://www.occatholic.com/wszystkiego-najlepszego-all-the-best/

Whether it was Pope John Paul II who created the devotion or not, most agree he played a big role in popularizing it — and he certainly captured its essence his first time out.

Source: https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/12/21/blessing-of-the-bambinelli/