Events in the Pontificate of His Holiness

John Paul II

1978

Cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected successor to Pope John Paul I, the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church and takes the name John Paul II. (Oct. 16)

First "Urbi et Orbi" radio message of John Paul II.(Oct. 17)

Solemn inauguration of his ministry as universal Pastor of the Church.(Oct. 22)

John Paul II's historic embrace of Cardinal Wyszynski. (Oct. 23)

First visit of the new Pontiff to Castelgandolfo: visit to the parish church and papal villa. (Oct. 25)

First pilgrimage outside Rome to the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Mentorella. (Oct. 29)

Visit of John Paul II to Assisi to venerate the tomb of St. Francis, patron of Italy, and to the basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva to venerate the tomb of St. Catherine, patroness of Italy. (Nov. 5)

As Bishop of Rome, John Paul II takes possession of St. John Lateran Basilica. (Nov. 12)

John Paul II begins his pastoral visits to the parishes in the diocese of Rome: S. Francesco Saverio at Garbatella. (Dec. 5)

1979

John Paul II accepts the request for mediation in the border conflict between Argentina and Chile. (Jan. 24)

Audience granted to the Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko.(Jan. 24)

First pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to Santo Domingo, Mexico (for the Third General Conference of the Latin American Bishops, Puebla), and the Bahamas. (Jan. 25- Feb. )

First papal encyclical: Redemptor Hominis, (On the Redemption and Dignity of the Human Race), published March 15. (Mar. 4)

Archbishop Agostino Casaroli is appointed Pro-Secretary of State and Pro-prefect of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church. (Apr. 28)

Second pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to Poland.(June 2-10)

Historic homily of John Paul II at Victory Square in Warsaw: "It is not possible to understand the history of the Polish nation without Christ".(June 2)

Celebration of the first Consistory in his pontificate for the creation of 14 Cardinals, among whom were Cardinal Casaroli, Secretary of State. (One additional Cardinal was reserved "in pectore"–Chinese Ignatius Gong Pin-mei, whose appointment was published only in the Consistory of June 28, 1991.(June 30)

Third pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to Ireland, the U.N. and the United States of America. (Sep. 29 - Oct. 8)

John Paul II addresses the General Assembly of the U.N. in New York.(Oct. 2)

Post-Synodal Pastoral Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, published October 25, 1979. (Oct. 16)

First Plenary Assembly of the College of Cardinals on the themes: the structure of the Roman Curia; the Church and culture; the financial situation of the Holy See. (Nov. 5-9)

Fourth pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: Turkey .(Nov. 28-30)

1980

Opening of the Special Assembly for the Netherlands of the Synod of Bishops on: "The pastoral action of the Church in Holland in the present situation". (Jan. 14-31)

Good Friday: John Paul II hears confessions of the faithful for the first time in St. Peter's Basilica. (Apr. 4)

Fifth pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to Zaire, the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Upper Volta, the Ivory Coast. (May 2-12)

Sixth pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to France. (May 30-June 2)

John Paul II's address to UNESCO in Paris. (June 2)

Visit of the President Jimmy Carter of the United States. (June 21)

Seventh pastoral visit outside Italy: to Brazil. (June 30-July 12)

For the first time John Paul II alludes to the events happening in Poland regarding Solidarnosc. (Aug. 20)

Fifth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World" .( Sept. 26-Oct. 25)

Pastoral visit to Subiaco and meeting with the European Bishops.(Sept. 28)

Official visit of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and of H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. (Oct. 17)

Eighth pastoral visit outside Italy: to West Germany. (Nov. 15-19)

Pastoral visit to Capodichino (Naples), Potenza, Balvano, Avellino, after the earthquake. (Nov. 25)

Second papal encyclical Dives in Misericordia, (On the Mercy of God), published December 2, 1980. (Nov. 30)

Official visit of President Cviyetin Mijatovic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. (Dec. 19)

Apostolic Letter proclaiming Sts. Cyril and Methodius, together with St. Benedict, Patrons of Europe. (Dec. 30)

1981

Pope John Paul II receives in Audience a delegation of the Polish Independent Syndicate "Solidarnosc", headed by Lech Walesa. (Jan. 15)

John Paul II meets with Rome's Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff, during his pastoral visit to the parish of Sts. Carlo e Biagio in Catinari. (Feb. 8)

Ninth pastoral visit outside Italy: to Pakistan, the Philippines, Guam (USA), Japan, and Anchorage (USA). (Feb. 16-27)

At 5:19 p.m.Turkish terrorist Mehmet Alì Agca makes an attempt on the Pope's life, while he was circling St. Peter's Square before his Wednesday general audience; following an operation which lasted 6 hours, he was hospitalized for 77 days at Gemelli hospital. (May 13)

John Paul II recites the Angelus at Gemelli hospital: "Pray for the brother who shot me, whom I have sincerely forgiven". (May 17)

John Paul II creates the Council of Cardinals for the study of organizational and economic problems of the Holy See, following the meeting of the Sacred College from November 5-9, 1981. (May 31)

John Paul II returns to the Vatican after 22 days of recovery at Gemelli Hospital. (June 3)

John Paul II is newly hospitalized for a "cytomegalo" virus infection. (June 20) On August 5th he undergoes a second operation; leaves hospital definitively, returns to the Vatican on the 14th of August and from there goes to Castelgandolfo on August 16th.

First meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the study of organizational and economic problems of the Holy See. (July 13)

Third papal encyclical Laborem Exercens (On Human Work).(Sept. 14)

Post-Synodal Pastoral Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (On the Family), published on December 15, 1981. (Nov. 22)

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger appointed prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (Nov. 25)

John Paul II sends delegates of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to the presidents of the USA, USSR, Great Britain, France, and the UN, to explain their document on the eventual consequences of the use of nuclear arms in Europe and the world. (Dec. 12)

John Paul II invites prayers for the Polish nation, calling the situation a state of emergency. (Dec. 13)

1982

Apostolic Letter Caritatis Christi, for the church in China. (Jan 6)

10th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Nigeria, Benin, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea. (Feb. 12-19)

Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Chinese Church. (Mar. 21)

11th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Portugal, one year after the assassination attempt on his life in St. Peter's Square. (May 12-15)

Holy Mass for justice and peace, for peace between Argentina and Great Britain (the Falkland Islands/Malvinas) in St. Peter's Basilica. (May 22)

12th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Great Britain. (May 28-June 2)

Joint statement of John Paul II and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, at the end of the ecumenical celebration in the Anglican Canterbury Cathedral. (May 29)

John Paul II meets the U.S. President Ronald Reagan for the first time; they pledge to work for world peace and justice. (June 7)

13th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Argentina, in relation to the war between Argentina and Great Britain, regarding the Falkland Islands and Malvinas. (June 10-13)

14th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Geneva, Switzerland - Speech by John Paul II at the 68· session of the International Workers Conference in Geneva. (June 15)

15th pastoral visit outside Italy: to San Marino and Rimini. (Aug. 29)

Private meeting with Yasser Arafat on the prospects for peace in the Middle East. (Sept. 15)

Renewed appeal for peace in Lebanon, after the murder of president-elect Bechir Gemayel. (Sept. 15)

Canonization of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe. Present at the canonization ceremony was Mr. Franciszek Gajownizek, the man for whom Fr. Maximilian offered his life in the concentration camp at Auschwitz. (Oct. 10)

Meeting with Italian President Sandro Pertini, at Castelporziano. (Oct. 19)

Official visit of the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Prof. Karl Carstens. (Oct. 28)

16th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Spain, for the closure of the 4th Centenary of the death of St. Teresa of Avila .(Oct. 31- Nov. 9)

Message to the peoples of Europe from the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. (Nov. 9)

Second Plenary Session of the College of Cardinals on: curial reforms; state of revisions of the Code of Canon Law; financial solvency of the Holy See; relations between the Institute of the Works of Religion (I.O.R.) and the "Banco Ambrosiano". (Nov. 23-26)

John Paul II announces the Holy Year of Redemption: from Lent 1983 to Easter 1984. (Nov. 26)

1983

Papal Bull Aperite Portas Redemptori, announcing the Jubilee for the 1950 anniversary of the Redemption. (Jan. 6)

John Paul II's Pastoral ConstitutionSacrae Disciplinae Leges, for the promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law. (Jan. 25)

Promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law by John Paul II. (Jan. 25)

Second Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 18 cardinals. (Feb. 2)

17th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Lisbon and Central America–Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Haiti. (Mar. 2-10)

Opening of the Holy Year of the Redemption. (Mar. 25, 1983- April 22, 1984)

18th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Poland. (June 16-23)

19th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Lourdes. (Aug. 14)

20th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Austria. (Sept. 10-13)

Sixth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on: "Penance and Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church". (Sept. 29 - Oct. 29)

Act of entrustment and consecration of the world to Our Lady of Fatima by John Paul II, together with the cardinals and bishops participating in the Synod of Bishops. (Oct. 16)

Letter for the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther. (Nov. 5)

Publication of the Charter of Rights of the Family (Nov. 24)

Meeting with the Evangelic–Lutheran community in Rome. (Dec. 11)

Visit to the Rebibbia prison and meeting with Alì Agca, the Turk who made an attempt on the life of John Paul II, May 13, 1981. (Dec. 27)

1984

Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America. (Jan. 10)

Pastoral Letter Salvific Doloris (On the Christian Meaning of Suffering). (Feb. 11)

Agreement between the Holy See and the Italian Republic on the revision of the Lateran Concordat: new Concordat signed. (Feb. 18)

John Paul II erects the Foundation for the Sahel, letter published March 3. (Feb.22)

In spiritual union with all the bishops of the world John Paul II repeats the act of entrustment of mankind and all peoples to Mary Most Holy, at Fatima on May 13.(Mar. 25)

Apostolic Exhortation Redemptionis Donum, to all men and women religious, published on March 29. (Mar. 25)

Additional appointments to the Roman Curia: broad renovation of responsibilities of dicasteries and commissions. (Apr. 9)

Apostolic Letter Redemptionis Anno on the City of Jerusalem, sacred patrimony of all believers and crossroads of peace for the peoples of the Middle East. (Apr. 20)

Conclusion of the Holy Year of Redemption 1983/84.(Apr. 22)

Apostolic Letter Les Grands Mystères (On the problem of Lebanon). (May 1)

21st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Korea, Papua-New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Thailand. (May 2-12)

Official visit of the Italian President Sandro Pertini. (May 21)

Official visit of John Paul II to the president of Italy, Sandro Pertini.(June 2)

22nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Switzerland. (June 12-17)

Visit of John Paul II to the massif of Adamello and meeting with President Pertini. (July 16-17)

Publication of the instruction of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith on certain aspects of theology of liberation.(Sept. 3)

23rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Canada. (Sept. 9-20)

24th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Zaragoza, Spain, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Oct. 10-13)

Publication of the Post-Synodal Pastoral Exhortation Reconciliatio and Paenitentia (Reconciliation and Penance). (Dec. 11)

1985

25th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad-Tobago. (Jan. 26- Feb. 6)

Audience with the Israeli Prime Minister Simon Peres. (Feb. 19)

Official visit of the Foreign Minister of the USSR Andrei Gromyko. (Feb. 27)

Apostolic Letter Dilecti Amici (To the Youth of the World) on the occasion of the United Nation's International Year of Youth. (Mar. 26)

First International Youth Meeting in Rome. (Mar. 30-31)

Pastoral visit of John Paul II to Loreto and meeting with Italian Bishops. (Apr. 11)

26th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Belgium. (May 11-21)

Third Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 28 new Cardinals.(May 25)

Fourth papal encyclical Slavorum Apostoli, published on July 2. (July 2)

Holy Mass in the Paoline Chapel of the Vatican for the Czechoslovak people, in remembrance of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. (July 7)

27th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Togo, the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, the Republic of Central Africa, Zaire, Kenya, Marocco. (Aug. 8-19)

28th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Kloten, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. (Sept. 8)

Official visit of President Francesco Cossiga of Italy. (Oct. 4)

Personal message of the Pope to Ronald Reagan and Mikail Gorbaciov for the Geneva summit. (Nov. 17)

Third Plenary Meeting of the College of Cardinals on the reform of the Roman Curia. (Nov. 21-23)

Second Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on: "The Twentieth Anniversary of the Conclusion of the Second Vatican Council". (Nov. 25-Dec. 8)

1986

Official visit of John Paul II to the Italian President, Francesco Cossiga.(Jan. 18)

29th pastoral visit outside Italy: to India. (Jan. 31- Feb. 10)

Private audience with President Amin Gemayel of Lebanon. (Feb. 19)

Official visit of the Governor General of Canada, Mme. Jeanne Sauvé.(Mar. 6)

Pope John Paul II and the dicastery heads of the Roman Curia meet with Bishops of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference at the end of their visita ad limina. (Mar. 13-15)

Publication of the instruction Libertatis Conscientia by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on Christian freedom and liberation. (Apr. 5)

John Paul II makes a visit to Rome's main synagogue. (Apr. 13)

Fifth papal encyclical Dominum et Vivificantem (On the Holy Spirit), published on May 30. (May 18)

30th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Colombia and Santa Lucia. (July 1-8)

31st pastoral visit outside Italy: to France (East-Central region).( Oct. 4-7)

John Paul II attends the First World Day of Prayer for Peace which he convoked in Assisi. (Oct. 27)

Official visit of the President Paul Biya of the Republic of Cameroon. (Oct. 31)

32nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Bangladesh, Singapore, Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Australia and Seychelles. (Nov. 18- Dec. 1)

1987

Audience with President of the Council of the People's Republic of Poland, General Wojciech Jaruzelski. (Jan. 13)

Instruction of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith on respect for human life published March 2. (Feb. 22)

Sixth papal encyclical Redemptoris Mater, (Mother of the Redeemer). (Mar. 25)

33rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Uruguay, Chile, Argentina.(Mar. 31- Apr. 13)

34th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the Federal Republic of Germany.(Apr. 30-May 4)

Official visit of the President Ronald Reagan of the United States.(June 6)

On the vigil of Pentecost: Solemn opening of the Marian Year. (June 7- Aug. 15)

35th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Poland. (June 8-14)

Official visit of the President Kurt Waldheim of the Federal Republic of Austria. (June 25)

Celebration of the 7th Centenary of the evangelization of Lithuania.(June 28)

First visit of John Paul II to the Dolomites (Lorenzago di Cadore) in northern Italy for a period of rest. (July 8-14)

36th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the USA and Canada (Fort Simpson).(Sept. 10-21)

San Francisco, USA, the Holy Father meets with AIDS patients at Mission Dolores Basilica and embraces a little boy called Brendan. (Sept. 17)

Seventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on: "The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World". (Oct. 1-30)

His Holiness Dimitrios, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, visits John Paul II, (Dec. 3-7) - Signing of common declaration.

Official visit with the President Raul Ricardo Alfonsin of the Republic of Argentina. (Dec. 11)

Seventh papal encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (On Social Concerns), published February 19, 1988. (Dec. 30)

1988

John Paul II's Apostolic Letter Euntes in Mundum, for the millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus', published March 22. (Jan. 25)

John Paul II's message to the Ukrainian Catholics, Magnum Baptismi Donum for the millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'. (Feb. 14)

First publication of the financial report of the Holy See (for the year 1986) and the estimated budget for the year 1988. (Mar. 3)

37th pastoral visit of John Paul II outside Italy: to Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Lima. (May 7-19)

Inauguration of the Dono di Maria shelter in the Vatican, entrusted to Mother Teresa's Missionary Sisters of Charity. (May 21)

Delegation to Moscow led by Secretary of State Cardinal Casaroli for the celebrations of the Millennium of Kievan Rus'. (June 13)

Official visit of the President Corazon C. Aquino of the Philippines.(June 18)

38th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Austria. (June 23-27)

Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus for the reform of the Roman Curia. (June 28)

Fourth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 24 new Cardinals.(June 28)

Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei, establishing a commission for the purpose of facilitating full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked to the Fraternity founded by Mons. Lefebvre, who may wish to remain united to the Successor of Peter in the Catholic Church. (July 2)

Solemn liturgy in the Byzantine-Ukrainian Rite in St. Peter's Basilica for the Millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'. (July 10)

Solemn conclusion of the Marian Year in St. Peter's Basilica.(Aug. 15)

39th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland. (Sept. 10-20)

Publication of the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women). (Sept. 30)

40th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the European Institutions of Strasbourg and to the dioceses of Strasbourg, Metz and Nancy, France.(Oct. 8-11)

Visit with the President Ciriaco De Mita of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic. (Nov. 19)

1989

Motu Proprio instituting the Labor Office of the Apostolic See, published the 25 January 1989. (Jan. 1)

Post-synod Apostolic Exhortation,Christifideles Laici dated December 30, 1988. (Jan. 30)

Meeting of John Paul II and members of the Curia with the metropolitan archbishops of the United States of America on the theme: "Evangelization in the context of the culture and society of the United States with particular emphasis on the role of the bishop as teacher of the faith". (Mar. 8-11)

Reorganization of the pastoral government of the dioceses in Lithuania.(Mar. 10)

Official visit of the President Patrick J. Hillery of Ireland.(Apr. 20)

41st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Madagascar, La Réunion, Zambia and Malawi. (Apr. 28-May 6)

Official visit of the President George Bush of the United States of America. (May 27)

42nd pastoral trip outside Italy: Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden. (June 1-10)

Restoration of diplomatic relations between Poland and the Holy See.(July 17)

Apostolic Exhortation, Redemptoris Custos (On St. Joseph).(Aug. 15)

Angelus message in which the Pope reveals his wish to personally go to Lebanon as soon as possible. (Aug. 15)

43rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Santiago de Compostela for the 4th World Youth Day. (Aug. 19-21)

Apostolic Letter for the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War. (Aug. 27)

Appeal to the followers of Islam in favour of Lebanon.(Sept. 7)

Apostolic Letter to all Bishops of the Catholic Church on the situation in Lebanon. World Day of Prayer for Peace in Lebanon. (Sept. 7)

Official visit of Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, (Sept. 29 -Oct.2 ) - Signing of common Delaration.

44th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Seoul (Korea), Indonesia and Mauritius. (Oct. 6-10)

Meeting of the diocesan bishops of the Federal Republic of Germany with the Holy Father on the theme: "Handing the faith to the next generation and the pastoral work of catechesis". (Nov. 13-14 )

Official visit of the President Mikhail Gorbaciov of the USSR.(Dec. 1)

New appointment of bishops in Czechoslovakia. (Dec. 21)

1990

45th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad. (Jan. 25-Feb.1)

Exchange of official representatives at the level of the apostolic nuncio and special ambassador between the Holy See and the Soviet government. (Mar. 15)

46th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Czechoslovakia. (Apr. 21-22)

John Paul II announces a Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops in Velehrad. (Apr. 22)

Official visit of the President Mario Soares of the Portugal. (Apr. 27)

47th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Mexico and Curaçao. (May 6-14)

48th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Malta. (May 25-27)

During his Angelus message John Paul II makes an appeal for peace in the Persian Gulf, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. (Aug. 26)

49th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Ivory Coast. (Sept. 1- 10)

Eighth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day". (Sept. 30-Oct. 28)

Promulgation of the Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches. (Oct. 18)

"Ad limina" visit of Vietnamese bishops: for the first time all bishops are present. (Nov. 24)

John Paul II accepts the resignation of the Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli and appoints Archbishop Angelo Sodano Pro-Secretary of State. (Dec. 1)

Papal appeal for peace in the Gulf, message taken from the Holy Father's Christmas "Urbi et Orbi". (Dec. 25)

1991

Letter to the U.S. President George Bush and to the President Sadam Hussein of Iraq, in an attempt to avert the Gulf War. (Jan. 15)

Eighth papal encyclical Redemptoris Missio of December 7,1990. (Jan. 22)

Official visit of the President Lech Walesa of the Polish Republic.(Feb. 5)

Meeting at the Vatican of episcopal representatives from the countries directly implicated in the Gulf War. (Mar. 4-5)

Second session of the Brazilian Episcopate and representatives of the Roman Curia. (Mar. 8-9)

Fourth Plenary Meeting of the College of Cardinals on the theme: "The Church facing the threat against human life and the challenge of the sects".(Apr. 4-7)

Meeting of the presidents of Episcopal Conferences concerning the economic problems of the Holy See and the financial contribution of the bishops (Canon 1271, CCL).( Apr. 8-9)

Reorganization of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church in the Soviet Republic of Belarus, Russia and Kazakistan. (Apr. 13)

Official visit of the President of the Republic of Chile, Patricio Aylwuin Azocar. (Apr. 22)

Meeting of Swiss Bishops with the Holy Father and the Roman Curia. ( Apr. 29-30)

Ninth papal encyclical Centesimus Annus (The Hundredth Year). (May 1)

Official visit of the King Karl Gustaf XVI of Sweden, and Queen Silvia. (May 3)

50th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Portugal. (May 10-13)

51st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Poland. (June 1-9)

Announcement of a Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops. (June 12)

Fifth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 22 new Cardinals and the announcement of the 1979 appointment "in pectore" of Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei. (June 28)

52nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Czestochowa (Poland) for the 6th World Youth Day. (Aug. 13-20)

Holy See and Albania establish diplomatic ties. (Sept. 7)

Ecumenical prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the 6th Centenary of the canonization of St. Brigit of Sweden. For the first time since the Reformation two Lutheran bishops prayed in St. Peter's Basilica with the Pope, together with the Catholic bishops of Stockholm and Helsinki.(Oct. 5)

53rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Brazil. (Oct. 12-21)

Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "So that we might be witnesses of Christ who has set us free".(Nov. 28-Dec. 14)

Ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. (Dec. 7)

1992

Holy See recognizes Russian Federation. (Jan. 1)

Holy See recognizes sovereignty of Croatia and Slovenia. (Jan.13)

Diplomatic relations with Croatia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. (Feb. 8)

Papal chirograph for the Autonoma Foundation Popolorum Progressio, for use in Latin America on the occasion of the 5th centenary of the evangelization of Latin America. (Feb 13)

54th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. (Feb. 19-26)

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, (Shepherds I give you).(Apr. 7)

Beatification of José Maria Escrivá de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei, and of Giuseppina Bakhita of Sudan. (May 17)

55th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Angola and Sao Tomé and Principe. (June 4-10)

At the Angelus John Paul II announces that he will go to Gemelli Hospital that evening for diagnostic tests. (July 12)

Holy Father undergoes colic resection surgery. John Paul II is released from Gemelli Polyclinic on July 26, 1992. (July 15)

Dramatic appeal for peace in the Balkans at the Angelus message.(Aug. 22)

Diplomatic relations between Holy See and Mexico. (Sept. 21)

56th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Santo Domingo, for the 5th centenary of the evangelization of Latin America and for the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate. (Oct. 9-14)

Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum, for new catechism, dated 11 October. (Nov. 16)

Official visit of the President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of the Italian Republic. (Nov. 27)

John Paul II officially presents the Catechism of the Catholic Church to representatives from the Roman Curia and to the presidents of doctrinal and catechetical commissions of the Episcopal Conferences. (Dec. 7)

Bishops of Albania appointed. (Dec. 25)

1993

At Assisi, special prayer meeting for peace in Europe and particularly in the Balkans. (Jan. 9- 0)

Official visit of Giuliano Amato, President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy. (Jan. 21)

57th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Benin, Uganda and Khartoum.(Feb. 3-10)

Official visit of the President Milan Kacan of Slovenia. (Feb. 19)

58th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Albania. (Apr. 25)

Conclusion of the second diocesan synod of Rome. (May 29)

59th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Spain. (June 12-17)

Tenth papal encyclical Veritatis Splendor, published October 5, 1993. (Aug. 6)

60th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Jamaica, Merida and Denver, for the celebration of the 8th World Youth Day. (Aug. 9-16)

61st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.(Sept. 4-10)

Pope dislocates his right shoulder during a fall at the end of an audience in the Hall of Benediction. He spent one day at Gemelli Hospital; his shoulder is immobilized for one month. (Nov. 11)

Official visit of the President Carlos Saul Menem of Argentina. (Dec. 16)

Opening of the International Year of the Family of the Catholic Church.(Dec. 26)

Signing of the accord on basic principles regulating diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel. (Dec. 30)

1994

Motu Proprio Socialium Scientiarum establishing the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. (Jan. 1)

Letter to the Italian Bishops on the responsibilities of Catholics facing the challenge of the present historic situation. (Jan. 6)

Mass presided by the Holy Father Pope John Paul II in the St. Peter's Basilica for peace in the Balkans. (Jan. 23)

Letter of John Paul II to Families, for the International Year of the Family. (Feb. 2)

Motu Proprio Vitae Mysterium establishes the Pontifical Academy for Life. (Feb. 11)

Official visit of President Richard von Weizsäcker of the Federal Republic of Germany.(Mar. 3)

Diplomatic relations with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. (Mar. 3)

Diplomatic relations with the Republic of South Africa. (Mar. 5)

Official visit of President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic. (Mar. 7)

Israeli Prime Minister Rabin visits the Pope. (Mar. 17)

Letter to heads of states around the world and to the Secretary General of the United Nations on the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, held in September 1994. (Mar. 19)

Vatican concert for the commemoration of the Shoah, in the presence of John Paul II and Chief Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff. (Apr. 7)

John Paul II celebrates Mass in the Sistine Chapel for the unveiling of the restored frescoes of Michelangelo. (Apr. 8)

Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The Church in Africa and Her Evangelizing Mission Towards the Year 2000: 'You Shall Be My Witnesses'". (Apr. 10-May 8)

Holy Father falls, breaks femur. Goes to Gemelli Hospital the morning of April 29. - Released from hospital on May 27th 1994. (Apr. 28)

Opening of the closed monastery "Mater Ecclesiae" within the Vatican walls. (May 13)

Apostolic Letter to the bishops: Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (On Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone). (May 22)

Receives President Bill Clinton of the United States. (June 2)

Fifth plenary meeting of the College of Cardinals, with John Paul II participating, in preparation for the Jubilee of the Third Millennium. (June 13-14)

Diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature and embassy between the Holy See and the State of Israel. (June 15)

Holy See sends its delegation to the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo. (Sept. 5-13)

John Paul offers Mass at Castelgandolfo for Bosnia-Herzegovina, after cancelling his planned visit to Sarajevo. (Sept. 8)

62nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Zagreb, Croatia. (Sept. 10-11)

Ninth general assembly of the Synod of Bishops: "The Consecrated Life and Its Role in the Church and in the World". (Oct. 2-29)

International Meeting of Families with the Holy Father honouring the International Year of the Family. (Oct. 8-9 )

Publication of Pope John Paul's book Crossing the Threshold of Hope.(Oct. 20)

Beginning of working contacts of a "permanent and official character" between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organization. (Oct. 25)

Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio Adveniente to Bishops, Clergy and Lay Faithful, for the preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, published 14 November. (Nov. 10)

Sixth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 30 new cardinals. (Nov. 26)

Letter to Children in the Year of the Family. (Dec. 13)

1995

63rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Manila for the celebration of the 10th World Youth Day on the theme.–Then to Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Sydney (Australia), and Colombo (Sri Lanka) for three beatifications. (Jan. 11-21)

Broadcast over Radio Veritas at Manila, John Paul II reads a message to Chinese Catholics. (Jan. 14)

Official visit to the Holy Father of the President of the Republic of Malta, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. (Feb. 4)

The Holy See sends its delegation to the 7-day UN World Summit of Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Mar. 6-12)

Eleventh papal encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), published March 30. (Mar. 25)

Apostolic Letter Orientale Lumen for the centenary of Orientalium Dignitas of Pope Leo XIII. (May 2)

Papal message on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. (May 8)

64th pastoral visit outside Italy: Czech Republic and the canonization of Blessed Jan Sarkander and Bl. Zdislava di Lemberk. (May 20-22)

Twelfth papal encyclical Ut Unim Sint (That All May Be One), published May 30. (May 25)

65th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Belgium, for the beatification of Fr. Damiaan de Veuster. (June 3-4)

Holy Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in remembrance of the end of World War II in Europe. (June 11)

Visit of Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartolomeo I (June 27-30)- Common declaration signed on June 29.

Letter to Women, published July 10. (June 29)

66th pastoral visit outside Italy: Slovak Republic, canonization of three martyrs (June 30-July 3) from Kosice (1916) - Marco da Krizevci, Stefano Pongracz and melchiovre Grodziecki.

Dr. Mary Ann Glendon, appointed by John Paul II as the first woman to head a Holy See delegation, addresses the 4th UN Conference on Women, in Beijing. (Sept. 4-15)

Visit to Loreto, on the occasion of the European Youth Pilgrimage, live link with Sarajevo. (Sept. 9-10)

67th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Yaoundé, Cameroon, Johannesburg/Pretoria, So. African; Nairobi, Kenya for the conclusion of the Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops. (Sept. 14-20)

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa, signed by the Pope in the Apostolic Nunciature of Yaoundé, the first time a document is signed outside the Vatican. (Sept. 14)

John Paul leaves for the US, his 68th pastoral foreign visit : to NY, Newark, Brooklyn, Baltimore, (Oct. 4-9); - his foreign trips now reach the 1 million kilometer mark.

Holy Father addresses UN General Assembly, commemorates UN's 50th anniversary. (Oct. 5)

The Holy Father receives the Bishops of Bosnia-Erzogovina, Croatia, Jugoslavia, Macedonia and Serbia. (Oct. 17)

Pope John Paul II participates in the commemoration ceremony on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Presbyterorum Ordinis with a speech on his priesthood. (Oct. 27)

Commemoration ceremony of the 30th anniversary of the Costituzione Conciliare Gaudium et Spes. (Nov. 8)

Apostolic Letter of John Paul II, for the Fourth Centenary of the Union of Brest. (Nov. 16)

One-day papal visit to Palermo, 123rd trip within Italy - for 3rd Ecclesial Convention of the Italian Church. (Nov. 23)

Opening Mass in St. Peter's for the Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops. (Nov. 26 - Dec. 14)

During celebrations for the Immaculate Conception, the pope entrusts Rome with special mission for Jubilee Year 2000. (Dec. 8)

"Urbi et Orbi" Christmas message and blessing on Internet. (Dec. 25)

1996

State visit of the French President Jacques Chirac. (Jan. 20)

Official visit of Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León.(Feb. 1)

69th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Venezuela. (Feb. 5-12)

Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, On the Vacancy of the Apostolic See and the Election of the Roman Pontiff. (Feb. 22)

Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, On the Consecrated Life and Its Mission in the Church and in the World.(Mar. 25)

Way of the Cross at the Colosseum: meditations prepared by Cardinal Vinko Pulijc, Archbishop of Vrhbosna, Sarajevo. (Apr. 5)

70th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Tunisia. (Apr. 14)

Apostolic Letter commemorating the 350 years old Union of Uzhorod. (Apr. 18)

71st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Slovenia. (May 17 - 19)

The Holy See sends its delegation to Habitat II, the UN II Conference on Human Settlements: Istanbul. (June 3 - 14)

72nd pastoral visit outside Italy: Germany, (June 21- 23).- Historical speech at the gate of Brandeburg, and the announcement of the new Synod for Europe.

Official visit by the Italian President of the Council of Ministers, Romano Prodi to the Holy Father. (July 4)

The celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine-Ukraine rite, at the Vatican Basilica, on the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of the Union of Brest. (July 7)

73rd pastoral visit outside Italy: Hungary. (Sept. 6 - 7)

74th pastoral visit outside Italy: France. (Sept.19 - 22)

The Holy Father undergoes the surgical procedure of an appendectomy at the Polyclinic "Agostino Gemelli", stays in hospital till the 15 October. (Oct. 8)

The Holy Father celebrates Holy Mass at St. Peter's Basilica on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination with the diocese of Rome. (Nov. 1)

Solemn Eucharistic Concelebration in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope John Paul II celebrates mass with the Cardinals, Bishops and priests consecrated in the year 1946. (Nov. 10)

The Holy Father addresses the opening of the UN World Food Summit organised by FAO (UN's Food and Agricultural Organization) in Rome. (Nov. 13)

Presentation of the Holy Father's book titled Gift and Mystery - on the Fiftieth Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination. (Nov. 15)

His Holiness Pope John Paul II receives in a private visit Dr. Fidel Castro Ruz, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba. (Nov. 19)

Pope John Paul II presides over the first vespers celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on the solemn occasion of the beginning of the three year preparation for the Great Jubilee Year of 2000–Announcement of "Holy Door" opening for December 24th, 1999. (Nov. 30)

Visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion, His Grace Dr. George Leonard Carey to the Holy Father and the Church of Rome - Signing of the common Declaration by the Holy Father and the Anglican Primate.(Dec. 3-6)

His Holiness Pope John Paul II receives the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all Armenian's, His Holiness Karekin I–Signing of the common Declaration. (Dec. 10-14)

Visit to Pope John Paul II by the Palestinian President and President of OLP Yasser Arafat. (Dec. 19)

1997

Visit by His Holiness Aram I Keshishian, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians, to the Holy Father and the Churches of Rome–Signing of common Declaration. (Jan. 23-26)

Holy Father receives Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.(Feb. 3)

Official visit of Brazilian President, Fernando Henrique Cardoso.(Feb. 14)

Holy See and Libya establish Diplomatic Relations. (Mar. 10)

Opening presentation of the Holy See Internet Site. (Mar. 24)

Audience granted by Pope John Paul II to the President of Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski. (Apr. 7)

75th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Sarajevo. (Apr. 12-13)

76th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the Czech Republic (Apr. 25-27) on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of the death of St. Adalbert.

Beatifications of five servants of God in St. Peter's Square including the first Gypsy Ceferino Giménez Malla, killed during the Spanish Civil War of 1936. (May 4)

77th pastoral visit outside of Italy: to Beirut (Lebanon) for the concluding phase of the Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops. (May 10-11 )

Pope John Paul II signs Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation, A New Hope for Lebanon, at the end of a meeting with young people in Our Lady of Lebanon Basilica in Harissa. (May 10)

The Holy Father receives the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze. (May 16)

78th Pastoral Visit outside Italy; to Poland (31 May -10 June) - with the Canonization of Blessed Hedwig, Queen of Poland.

Two letters written by Pope John Paul II to Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel and to Yassar Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, for the Middle East peace process (June 16 ).

Letter to President Boris N. Yeltsin of the Russian Federation on Religious Freedom ( June 24).

79th Pastoral Visit outside Italy; to Paris (France) for the celebration of the XII World Youth Day (Aug. 21).

Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith document entitled; Regulations for Doctrinal Examination (June 29).

Apostolic Letter Laetamur Magnopere, approval and promulgation , the official version in Latin of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Aug. 15).

Papal Visit to Bologna (27-28 Sept.) for the closure of the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress.

80th Pastoral Visit outside Italy; Rio de Janeiro (Brazil, 2-6 Oct.), for the 2nd World Meeting of the Family.

Apostolic Letter Divini Amoris Scientia proclaims St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Doctor of the Church (Oct. 19).

In St. Peter’s Square–solemn proclamation of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Doctor of the Church–33rd Doctor of the Church–3rd women after St. Theresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena.

Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops (16 Nov. - 12 Dec.). Theme of the Synod (Encounter with the Living Jesus Christ, the way to Conversion, Communion and Solidarity in America.

Holy Mass to inaugurate the 2nd year - dedicated to reflection on the Holy Spirit, in preparation for the Great Jubilee Year 2000 (Nov. 30).

1998

Apostolic Constitution Ecclesia in Urbe - on the governing of the Vicariate of Rome (Jan. 1).

Pastoral Visit within Italy to the people afflicted by the earthquake in Umbria and Marche (Jan. 3). The Pope visits Annifo, Cesi and Assisi.

Visit to the Mayor of Rome, Francesco Rutelli and the town council in Capitoline Hill (Jan. 15).

81st Pastoral Trip to the Republic of Cuba (21-26 Jan.), and meeting with the Cuban President Fidel Castro Ruz at the Palacio de la Revolución.

Pastoral Visit to the house of a Roman family in the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Prati, inaugurating the phase of the citizen’s Mission and distribution of the Acts of the Apostle (Feb. 1).

7th Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 20 new Cardinals (plus two "In pectore") (Feb. 21).

Audience of Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State for the United States of America (Mar. 7).

82nd Pastoral Visit to Nigeria (21-13 Mar.) for the Beatification of Fr. Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi.

Exchange of Ratification document of the Concordat between the Holy See and Poland (Mar. 25).

Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Asia (Apr. 19): "Jesus Christ the Saviour and his Mission of Love and Service in Asia...: that they may have life and have it abundantly"–During the solemn opening of the Synod, the Pope announces his invitation to two Bishops from mainland China to attend - (permission to leave China was denied).

Pope’s Audience with their Majesties King Alberto II and Queen Paola of Belgium (May 15).

Pope John Paul's Motu Proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem (To Defend the Faith), with which several norms are inserted into the Code of Canon Law and Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches regarding the formulation of the profession of faith (May 18).

Pastoral visit of John Paul II to Vercelli and Turin (23-24 May): Veneration of the Holy Shroud.

Meeting in St. Peter’s Square with the "Ecclesial Movements and New Communities" (May 30).

The Holy Father's Apostolic Letter Dies Domini, the Day of the Lord (May 31).

Meeting with the Cuban Bishops, to examine the future prospects of the Visit to Cuba (June 9).

Audience with the President of the National Palestiniam Authority, Yasser Arafat (June 12).

83rd Pastoral Visit abroad to Austria (19-21 June) for the Beatification of Frs. Jakob Kern and Anton Maria Schwartz and Sr. Restituta Kafka.

Sept. 14 13th Encyclical Letter Fides et Ratio of the Supreme Pontiff to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Relationship Between Faith and Reason (published 15 Oct).

Oct. 2 Pastoral Visit to Croatia (2-4 Oct) and Beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, martyr. (84th International Pastoral Visit)

Oct. 11 Canonization of Bl. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, martyr.

Oct. 18 Pope John Paul II celebrates his 20th Anniversary of Pontificate and 40th Anniversary of Episcopal Ministry. (St. Peter's Square).

Oct. 20 Official visit of Pope John Paul II to President of the Republic of Italy, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (Rome, the Quirinale Palace).

Nov. 17 Meeting of the Bishops of Australia with the heads of the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia in connection with the Ad limina Visit and the Synod for Oceania (17-20 Nov).

Nov. 22 Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops, entitled "Jesus Christ and the Peoples of Oceania: Walking His Way, Telling His Truth, Living His Life" (22 Nov - 12 Dec).

Nov. 29 Holy Mass for the inauguration of the 3rd year of preparation for the Jubilee and presentation of Incarnationis mysterium Bull of Indiction for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

1999

Jan. 8 Audience with the Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Massimo D'Alema.

Jan. 22 Pastoral Visit to Mexico City and to St. Louis, USA for the Conclusion of the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops (22-28 Jan.) (85th International Pastoral Visit)

Jan. 22 Mexico City, signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America.