The Republic of Panama—located in Central America, bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea—is most known for the Panama Canal. Our journey took place from March 3 to 8. This was another Latin American country we visited with friends of the John Paul II Foundation. As always during our trips, we aimed to find places connected to Saint John Paul II. More on that shortly.
Capital city – Panama City.
Our sightseeing began in the historic district of Casco Viejo, founded by the Spanish. The oldest buildings date back to 1673 and are currently being restored. We visited sacred sites such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Church of St. Joseph (San Jose), which features a breathtaking gold altar from 1675. Other landmarks included the Presidential Palace, the National Theatre, Bolivar Square, and Independence Square. The area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. The modern section of the city surprises visitors with its skyline of towering skyscrapers.
Saint John Paul II in Panama
The Holy Father visited Panama on March 5, 1983, during his 17th apostolic journey, which also included Portugal, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Haiti. His purpose was to connect with the local churches, renew faith in Christ, and pray for peace. He met with campesinos—Panama’s poor farmers—and led a Liturgy of the Word for them. The highlight of his visit was a special Mass for families. This was commemorated with the construction of a chapel named after St. John Paul II in Panama City. Nearby, a statue of the Saint was erected with figures of a father, mother, and child—symbolizing the Pope’s defense of the family. We prayed in the chapel and sang “Barka,” deeply moved by the living devotion to our fellow countryman in this distant land.
In the Indigenous Village
From Corotua Port, we took boats to the Embera village, home to 57 native people. We learned about their traditions and how they build their homes using local materials like wood, bamboo, and palm leaves.
Women care for the home and make handicrafts from natural materials, while men focus on hunting, farming, and gathering. They wear traditional attire—colorful skirts, beads, and headpieces. Until recently, skirts were made from tree bark. We ended our visit with a traditional dance alongside the villagers.
Along the way, we stopped at a small island to see wild capuchin monkeys. We were able to observe, photograph, and even feed them.
The Panama Canal
From the town of Colón, we entered the Panama Canal by boat—an unforgettable experience. This marvel of engineering connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Construction began in 1881 under a French company, which eventually went bankrupt. In 1903, the U.S. supported Panama’s separation from Colombia and gained control of a 10-mile-wide zone for canal construction, completed between 1904 and 1914. The canal remained under U.S. control until 1999. Today, expansion projects continue. Watching massive ships pass through the locks with the help of rail-guided tugboats was awe-inspiring. We also visited the canal museum, showcasing tools, uniforms, machine models, and specially built ships.
Historic Town of Portobelo
Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, the site of Portobelo was called 'Beautiful Port.' The town was founded in 1597 by Spanish explorer Francisco Valarde y Marcado. It served as a major Spanish shipping hub and was heavily fortified. Remnants of fort walls, stone bridges, and dozens of cannons still remain. In 1980, Fort San Lorenzo and the ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On October 21 each year, pilgrims from across Panama travel to Portobelo to honor the Black Christ (Cristo Negro) at the Sanctuary of Christ of Nazareth in St. Philip’s Church. The life-size statue, made from black wood, is dressed in robes changed twice a year. Legends say the statue arrived mysteriously in 1658 and became known for miracles. One tale describes a ship repeatedly turned back by storms until the statue was left ashore. Another says it washed up during a plague, which ended after the statue was accepted. Enslaved people and mulattos adopted the Black Christ as their patron. Thousands of barefoot pilgrims in purple robes join a candlelit procession each year, carrying the statue on a platform moved rhythmically—three steps forward, two back.
At this remarkable sanctuary, we attended Mass led by Fr. Józef Szpilski and Fr. Andrzej Kurowski, pastor of St. Frances de Chantal Parish in Brooklyn.
We ended our trip at the Santa Clara resort on the Pacific Ocean. Some chose beach walks, others swam in the warm sea or relaxed poolside amid lush tropical scenery.
Perhaps we’ll return, as the next World Youth Day—initiated by St. John Paul II in 1985—will be held in Panama in 2019.
Text & Photos: Agnieszka May and Kazimiera Szafran