Monument to John Paul II

Technique: figure cast in bronze, granite plinth

Dimensions: 2.4 m (H), 1.5 m (H of the plinth)

Object: The monument to Saint John Paul II is located next to Saint Bridget’s Church. It depicts the figure of the Pope, who is standing and holding a child at his shoulder with his right hand. On the west and east side of the base is an inscription reading: “To the Holy Father John Paul II / defender of human dignity and rights / in the Holy Year of the Redeemer 1984 / Rev. H. Jankowski”.

Place: between the churches of Saint Bridget and Saint Catherine. The open space in front of the side entrance to Saint Bridget’s Church (now a car park) used to be a very intimate part of the city, with narrow streets shaped by the façades of small houses. The location of the monument to John Paul II respects this form of spatial memory: the statue stands as if connected to the façade of the church, in the narrow space of Profesorska Street. The space in front of Saint Bridget’s Church contains interesting geometric information about the formation of the Old Town; it is shaped by the façades of two churches: the southern façade of Saint Bridget’s and the eastern façade of Saint Catherine’s. Both of these churches are not, however, at right angles to each other. This interesting formation, based on two independent geometries, is continued in the street layout of the entire Old Town.

Information about the author: Wawrzyniec Samp (b. 25 June 1939) is a sculptor. He studied at the Faculty of Sculpture at the State School of Visual Arts (PWSSP) in Gdańsk, graduating in 1964 from Prof. Stanisław Horno-Popławski’s studio. Samp also majored in architectural and sculptural design and ceramics. His portfolio includes sculpture, medal-making, artistic blacksmithing, heraldry and design of sacral spaces. He is the author of many monuments, e.g. To Those Who for the Polish Identity of Gdańsk…, statue of John Paul II at Saint Bridget’s Church in Gdańsk, statue of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in the Gniezno cathedral, and the coat of arms of the Pomeranian voivodship.

Condition of the object: good

Owner/guardian: Roman Catholic parish of Saint Bridget

Author of the entry: inventory made by the Gdańsk University of Technology team, description of the place: Jacek Dominiczak, additional information: Małgorzata Paszylka-Glaza