Rev. Robert Pochopien PhD
Volume: 14 Issue: 06, 2026
Abstract:
This article examines fatherhood as an intergenerational heritage and a personal vocation. It begins with the relationship between Karol Wojtyla and his father, Karol Wojtyla Sr., as reconstructed from John Paul II’s recollections, biographical sources, and military records. It then analyzes selected elements of the anthropology and theology of fatherhood in the writings of Karol Wojtyla and the documents of John Paul II, with particular attention to self-gift, responsibility, presence, service, and education. The third part considers how this heritage is received within the formation of the Knights of Saint John Paul II, especially the priority accorded in their Rule to marital and paternal obligations. The final part sets this model against contemporary transformations of fatherhood and research on the intergenerational transmission of values. The adopted perspective understands heritage not as the simple replication of a model, but as its reception, reinterpretation, and realization under new social conditions.