There were many more things I wanted to say, but with only 5 minutes I had to come up with what I thought we some of the bigger highlights, additionally all the students have holy cards of both saints listing the basic bio of when they were born, died, etc. This was simply a brief honoring of the historic event from the day before.
Saint John XXIII - The Good Pope
He had a new style of teaching and leading - a more down to earth way, believing in what he termed the 'medicine of mercy,' and not the dour or distant approach previously seen (we see this mercy approach again in Pope Francis).
His encyclical Pacem in Terris - Peace on Earth - set off a human rights revolution that today still shapes how the Church ministers to the poor, suffering and imprisoned. He was also the first pope to reach out in a broader manner to non Catholics, opening the door to greater inter-religious dialogue. And, something that helped me to take better notice of him and learn more about his life - he had a great sense of humor - Audrey, you weren't at assembly that morning, but he would have loved your jokes!
Saint John Paul II - The Family Pope
First non Italian in 500 years, and at age 58, one of the youngest (he also went on the have one of the longest papacies). He had a confidence and charisma that captivated the world, Catholic and non Catholic alike. He reminded us of the Church's central mission, calling for what he termed 'The New Evangelization.' He fought our culture of death, showing us how to have a culture of life. As part of this promoting a culture of life he paid special attention to families and youth, writing major documents on the family, calling a Synod on the family (a synod is where the bishops meet to discuss a certain topic), called a Year of the Family, and he created World Youth Day. He gave us the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, and he was a prolific writer - he's the greatest papal writer ever.
Some things both saints have in common:
Both were very intelligent and scholarly, humble and diplomatic. Both faced the threats and problems of their days with courage, openness, love and faith-filled hope. At the hour of their deaths people immediately wanted to make them saints by acclamation. For John Paul that was the folks gathered in Vatican Square the night he died, for John the bishops, shortly after his death, at the second session of Vatican II, called for his immediate canonization, even circulating a petition for such. Both did go through the regular process, but both were given dispensations. The second miracle was waived for John XXIII, his whole being a testament of his holiness. For John Paul the usual five year waiting period was waived and his cause for canonization was opened early. With my deep devotion to St. Joseph I noticed early on that they both have Joseph as their middle name. Both are very holy men worthy of our admiration and veneration. San Giuseppe, prega per noi!
Feast day: most commonly a saint's feast day is the day they died, but not always. In the case of our two new saints their feast days are not on the day they died but instead have special connections to their papacy.
John XXIII - 11 Oct, the opening day of Vatican II (he convened this council)
John Paul II - 22 Oct, his inauguration as pope (he was elected on 16 Oct)
Divine Mercy Sunday: The second Sunday of Easter, now known as Divine Mercy Sunday, was chosen for the canonization as both are known for preaching about Jesus' Divine Mercy. John Paul, however, has some additional connections which made this a fitting day. First he helped show that the diary kept by St. Faustina, who received the revelations about Divine Mercy from Jesus, was sound, and it was removed from the list of banned books. He both beatified and canonized St. Faustina. Later, he instituted the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday as Jesus asked through St. Faustina. Lastly, he died on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Additional information:
Both have books they wrote and books about them are easy to find. Some of the information in the above blurb I pulled from articles in Our Sunday Visitor 27 April 2014. I read a hard copy found in our parish church, but I've added a link below to their website. One of my favorite books about John XXIII is The Good Pope by Greg Tobin (ISBN: 978 0 06 208941 0). A book about John XXIII that I haven't read yet, but hope to soon, is Journal of a Soul, the journal he started keeping as a young man.