The Cathedral of Christ the King will host a special celebration in honor of Pope John Paul II’s birthday May 18 in the Cathedral’s parish hall.

“Karol Jozef Wojtyla, His Holiness John Paul II, From Wadowice to the Vatican” will celebrate the late pontiff’s birthday from a unique angle. Sharon Zukauckas, organizer of the event, said that the celebration will focus on the pope’s early life. After a 6 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father John Matejek, parochial vicar at the Cathedral, participants will enjoy a light dinner and a movie depicting the pope’s early life as a teenager and young adult.

“Everyone always thinks of the elderly pope. We don’t really think about him as a young man,” Zukauckas said. “We think of him as a man who always thought he would become pope. But this movie is a beautiful depiction of how he really struggled with his own discernment process.”

The movie and celebration will be held from 7-9:30 p.m. Father Brian Higgins, vocations director for the archdiocese, will give a brief reflection.

Zukauckas said she hopes to show Pope John Paul in a “new and different light.”

“This is about a man of great faith discerning the will of God in his life,” she said.

The event is open to all. A goodwill donation of $3-5 is requested from participants. To reserve a space, send an e-mail by May 15 to popeprayerlists@bellsouth.net. For more information, call Zukauckas at (404) 234-5840.