"The Great"

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In my conservative diocese, a new high school is opening called “Pope John Paul the Great.” While I have heard him popularly referred to as “the great” since his death, I was a bit surprised that a school would bear that name. Is our late Pope officially now to be known as “the great” and, if so, when and how did that take place. Or, is it common for this appellation to be added by popular acclaim?

I am not objecting to it, by the way, am just curious . . .
 
There is no formal process in order to call someone “the Great”. It is something that catches on and gets popularized by people. Pope Benedict XVI has also used it to refer to John Paul the II. It is not a common thing though given that only three other popes have been called this title.

God Bless,
Matt
 
now, it is. The Pope did some blessing (I didn’t remember what the priest called it) for the corner of the school during the mass in Washington, DC. 🙂
 
The title is given only by common use. I use the term myself. I use it for three reasons; his longevity, his influence in world politics and his leadership in the post VII era. Obviously, many look at the bad and let the good be “interred with the bones.” They ar free to use more snarky epitaths.
 
From what I remember, the title, “John Paul The Great,” was given by the huge crowds of people in the streets who attended his funeral. Just before the the final blessing was given at JP’s Mass, the people began to chant “John Paul the Great.”
The title stuck, from that day on.

In other words, it was the people who gave him the title, “The Great.”

Jim
 
water said:
now, it is. The Pope did some blessing (I didn’t remember what the priest called it) for the corner of the school during the mass in Washington, DC. 🙂
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I was there and my first thought was “well, I guess it IS official”! 🙂
 
water said:
You meant you were able to attend the mass in the stadium!?
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Yes, I was. Glorious. Wonderful, Inspiring. (Not always “my style” but an experience I shall never forget.)

Went to a Latin Mass I regularly attend the following day, and Sunday Mass at my parish this morning, and feel so grateful that we as Catholic Americans have such freedom to praise and pray.
 
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