44 years ago today, a newly elected Pope Saint John Paul II spoke the words “ ” during his inaugural mass.

Even St. John Paul II did not know the impact that those words would make during his papacy. Years later he reflected on this continued usage of “Be not afraid” saying, it was “addressed to all people, an exhortation to conquer fear in the present world situation”.

“When pronouncing these words in St. Peter’s Square, I already knew that my first encyclical and my entire papacy would be tied to the truth of the Redemption. “ !”: “ ” (cf. Jn 3:16).