The flag of Vatican City will not fly over Toronto City Hall to mark the annual St. John Paul II Day for the first time in nearly two decades. 

Recent changes in religious imagery policies will see the city no longer flying religious flags at City Hall. 

Former city councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, who started the ceremony back in 2006, a year after the sainted pope’s death, labeled the decision as the end of an era for a ritual dedicated to celebrating the life of one of the most beloved figures in Catholicism. 

“This year, the City of Toronto came out of the blue at the last minute and said that we can no longer (raise the flag) there because no religions are allowed to raise flags any more,” he said. “For years we were allowed to do it and all of a sudden now the city is saying not to do it and that is a sort of discrimination that we shouldn't tolerate. As Catholics, we should stand up just like other religions do.” 

In an email response to The Catholic Register, the City of Toronto confirmed that flag-raising requests are approved based on the criteria of a "flag-raising program." Requests are reviewed annually to ensure the program criteria are applied consistently.

“An event has not been cancelled. A request to fly a flag marking Pope John Paul II Day was declined as it does not meet the program’s criteria, as the City of Toronto does not approve flag-raising requests to mark religious events,” the statement read. 

A closer look at Toronto’s flag-raising program for 2025 shows scheduled flag raisings for the current term of council which is updated each month. While the Vatican flag is not scheduled to fly, this month will feature flags for Toronto Football Club, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and even the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Inquiries surrounding what defines a flag to be of religious nature, or whether other flags such as the Progress Pride flag will be flown again this year under the program’s criteria, were not answered. 

Noah MacDonald, a canon lawyer in the Archdiocese of Toronto, says the recent change doesn’t add up. 

“There does still appear to be hypocrisy given the other flags City Hall is willing to fly. If their argument is that they won’t fly the flag of a nation with an official state religion, then why are they flying the flags of Greece (Greek Orthodox), Morocco (Islam) and Somalia (Islam)?” he said, referring to last year’s flag raisings.

While it will be interesting to see what flags are approved and denied as the year goes on, the new policy regarding religious organizations and religious flags marks the end of the Vatican flag’s appearance at City Hall for the foreseeable future. 

Neil MacCarthy, director of public relations and communications for the Archdiocese of Toronto, is disappointed by the recent pivot. 

“It is extremely disappointing to learn that the City of Toronto has made a decision that will prevent the Vatican flag from being raised at the courtesy flagpole to honour St. John Paul II, as has been done for many years,” he said. “A grassroots, peaceful initiative organized by the community, this event was an opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions of someone deeply loved by both the Catholic community and people of many faiths in our city and around the world.”

Korwin-Kuczynski was one of the first to  petition through a major postcard campaign to Ottawa to make St. John Paul II Day on April 2 a special day recognized by the Government of Canada. To this day, Canada remains one of the only governments in the world that recognizes John Paul II Day.

He said that although this is the first year changes had to be made, that pushback from city hall had been growing for years. 

“They had tried this a number of years ago too, but at that time I pointed out that the flag being raised is the flag of the Vatican, which is a country. They had to let it go because other countries are able to fly their flag, but this year they were adamant that they weren't going to allow it,” he said. 

This year’s flag raising has been moved to the John Paul II Polish Cultural Centre, located at 4300 Cawthra Rd. in Mississauga, a short walk from the Polish St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. 

Following Holy Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe at 11 a.m. on March 30, parishioners will march down the street to the cultural centre where flowers and candles will be laid at the pope’s monument before the Vatican flag is raised at noon. Korwin-Kuczynski expects a turnout of at least 500 people. 

Korwin-Kuczynski said the late pope's grace for all people, regardless of cultural background, knows no bounds. 

“ It is just fine that it’s taking place there, but the pope was not just a Polish pope, he was a pope for everybody. We embrace him because we love him and everything else, there is no question about that, but at the same time, we have to understand that he is important for everyone,” Korwin-Kuczynski said. 

“One of the best parts of being able to do this at City Hall was having other groups come forward as well. We want to make it very clear that this is not a Polish event, this is a Canadian event.”

The event was initially created by the Toronto Warsaw Friendship Committee and is backed by the Order of the Knights of St. John Paul II, who hope the event serves as a visual reminder of the former pope and his many contributions to Catholicism on a global scale. 

“ Simply put, he was one of the greatest popes of our century and we don't want to forget him, we want to commemorate the beautiful things that he has done. Whether it was bringing down the Iron Curtain, initiating World Youth Day and bringing young people back to the Church or even by visiting so many countries to spread the word of God, his contributions are endless,” Korwin-Kuczynski continued. 

Korwin-Kuczynsk says he is not giving up his fight to bring St. John Paul II’s memory back to the city that celebrated it for so many years. 

“I will continue to fight the city —  we are trying to push that to make sure that at least this doesn't happen next year and that we get back to a central place where Catholics from all different nationalities have the opportunity to come and recognize this special day,” he said. 

Multiple Masses in remembrance of St. John Paul II are slated to follow the March 30 flag raising, at the parishes St. Casimir's, St. Teresa’s, St. Stanislaus Kostka and Our Lady Queen Of Poland Parish on April 2.