Minor Basilica dedicated to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

With deep reverence I kiss as well the threshold of the house of God – the parish church of Wadowice, and the baptismal font in which I was joined to Christ and accepted into the community of His Church. In this church I made my first confession and Holy Communion. Here I was an altar boy. Here I gave thanks to God for the gift of the priesthood, and, as Archbishop of Cracow, celebrated the silver jubilee of my ministry. How much good, how much grace I carried from this church and this parish community, only He knows Who is the Bestower of every grace. To him, the Triune God, I give praise today at the threshold of the church.

John Paul II
Wadowice, 16 June 1999

minor basilica The first mention of the church in Wadowice comes from the year 1325. It was a small wooden church, belonging to the parish of Mucharz, and in 1335, it was moved to the parish in Woźniki. After a great fire there in 1440, a new brick church, now the sanctuary of the present church, was built in Wadowice. The first mention of an independent parish in Wadowice dates from 1470; the names of all the priests since 1539 are recorded. Following a fire in the eighteenth century, a further expansion of the church was carried out, resulting in the present nave. In the first half of the nineteenth century, side chapels and the sacristy were built. At the end of the century the facade and tower received their present form.

In this church in May 1929, Karol Wojtyła made his first Holy Communion. in 1938 he received the sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of the Metropolitan of Cracow, Archbishop Adam Sapieha. And on 10 November 1946, Father Karol Wojtyła celebrated his first mass here.

In 1992, as the result of a papal bull, the church was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica. Inside is an altar with an image of Our Lady. Upon the pillars there are six altars, including those of St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Joseph and Divine Mercy. The aisles terminate in four chapels, as follows:

The Chapel of the Holy Cross, whose main feature is an altar with a miraculous image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, crowned by Pope John Paul II in the Wadowice market square on 16 June 1999.

The Chapel of the Holy Family, with its baptismal font and papal blessing for all those renewing their baptismal promises. Here, on 20 June 1920, Karol Wojtyła was baptised.

The Chapel of the Crucifixion, where the relics of Saints Padre Pio, Father Maximilian Kolbe, and Simon of Lipnica are exhibited on the altar.

The Chapel of the Saint John Paul II. On the altar stone is a reliquary containing a drop of blood of the Saint Pope John Paul II. On the vault is an illustration of the last of his 14 papal encyclicals, depicting the miraculous multiplication of the loaves.

The vaults of the church are decorated with paintings referring to papal teachings, including illustrations of encyclicals, pastoral letters and exhortations. In the presbytery can be found eight portraits of Polish saints canonised by Pope John Paul II.

Date of introduction: February 22, 2016