Thomas Griffin 10/22/25 (For SpiritualDirection.com)
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Pope St. John Paul II was a giant of a man. He was a captivating person, priest and pope who impacted countless lives. As a theology teacher, my respect for JPII revolves around his witness, his ability to write coherently and powerfully about the faith, and the way he interacted with crowds and individuals. I have more intentionally studied his philosophy, theology and life over the course of the last year and something has stood out as his defining characteristic: his intimacy with the person of Jesus Christ.
The pope was known for his smile, his travels, his ministry with youth, and for his public witness of suffering. Through everything and behind all aspects of his life, was his commitment to a personal encounter with the living Jesus. I experienced this through reflection of the life and writings of JPII in light of the challenges within the health of my own family (that of my mother and wife).
Thomas Griffin is the chairperson of the religion department at a Catholic high school on Long Island where he lives with his wife and children. He has a masters degree in theology and is a masters candidate in philosophy. Thomas is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empty Tomb Project: The Magazine. He is the author of Let Us Begin: Saint Francis’s Way of Becoming Like Christ and Renewing the World.
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