32 2000 — In Rome, Pope John Paul II canonizes St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the Secretary and Apostle of Divine Mercy, and establishes “Divine Mercy Sunday” as a special title for the Octave Sunday of Easter for the universal Church. 2007 — Construction begins on the Mother of Mercy Outdoor Shrine on the south lawn. The facility provides appropriate space for the annual Divine Mercy Sunday celebration and other events. 2010 — Thousands celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Pope Benedict XVI grants a plenary indulgence for Shrine pilgrims. 2012 — The life-size outdoor Stations of the Cross are dedicated. A first-class relic of then-Blessed John Paul II is enshrined in the National Shrine. And a new entranceway, then called the “Blessed John Paul II Plaza,” is dedicated on his feast day, Oct. 22. 2014 — After the canonization of Pope John Paul II, the plaza is renamed the “St. John Paul II Plaza.”
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