The Order of the Knights of Saint John Paul II the Great (Latin: Ordo Militiae Sancte Ioannis Pauli II Magni) was established in January 2011 as a votive offering for the beatification of the Great Pope John Paul II. Its goal is to form men in the image and spirit of the teachings of the order's patron, Saint John Paul II the Great. It is a men's Catholic association for lay people who wish to explore, develop, and continue the work of the holy Polish Pope.

The fundamental responsibilities of members are to strive for their own holiness and that of all around them, defend Christian values, promote the spirituality of lay men, support the clergy, and cultivate patriotism and love of their homeland. Every male member of the order is tasked with setting an example of Christian living through his daily life, primarily for his loved ones but also for all those he encounters. Each brother is supported by a community of men who share the same mindset and desire to live according to the principles of the Christian faith, follow the example of their patron, and bear witness to their faith.

 At the Sanctuary of St. John Paul II in Krakow, Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz awarded the Order the title of Guardians of the Relics of the Blood of St. John Paul II.

The Order's form of governance relies on the decisions of a single supreme Superior – the Order's General. The right to elect the General from among all the Brother Knights generally belongs to the Brother Knights of the Polish Province and to Brothers representing the other Provinces of the Order. The proportions and principles for electing the Brother Representatives are established by the current General of the Order. The first deputy of the General is always the Polish Provincial.

The General's term of office is unlimited and expires only in the event of:

1. Death or serious illness preventing the performance of duties for at least 12 months,

2. Voluntary abdication,

3. Incurring the penalty of excommunication, confirmed by the appropriate Church authorities,

4. Dismissals by the Priesthood Council.

The Order's structure should reflect, as closely as possible, the structure of a given particular church, where a parish is represented by a Banner, a diocese by a Commandery, and a given country by a Province. Units of the Order are headed by the Grand Knight for a Banner, the Commander for a Commandery, and the Provincial for a Province. Detailed rules for the Order's operation are regulated by the Order's Ceremonial Order , approved by the Master

The organization of the Order of Knights of John Paul II is based on the basic unit of the Church, the parish, in which the Brother Knights who center their religious life there form a Banner. The higher organizational units of the Order are: the Commandery, which organizes the Order's life within a given Diocese, and the National Province, which organizes the Order's life within a given country. The entire Order is headed by the General of the Order with the Grand Chapter.

A Banner may be formed by at least six Brothers with the approval of the local parish priest, who will serve as its chaplain or appoint another priest to fulfill this role. The Banner is named after the parish's patron saint. Each new Banner is established by the Provincial or General, from whom it receives the national banner, the maintenance and presentation of which during ceremonies is one of the Banner's main duties. Members of the Banner elect officers from among themselves for a one-year term, constituting the Banner's executive authority. 

Commandery – composed of all the Banners operating within a given Diocese, headed by a Commander appointed by the relevant Provincial, who is responsible for contacts with the diocesan Bishop and coordinating the activities of the knights in a given diocese. National Province – composed of all the Commanderies. The Province is headed by a Provincial, appointed by the Order's General.

On 13 June 2026, our story expanded with the official launch of our new Irish chapter. Establishing our presence in Ireland marks an important event for the Order, bringing our tradition of fraternal brotherhood and faith-filled service to local communities across the island. As a newly established chapter, we are dedicated to building a strong foundation rooted in prayer, charitable action, and the enduring spirit of Saint John Paul II.