26 Years as Pope
1978 - Election
Karol Cardinal Wojtyła, Archbishop of Krakow, Poland, is elected Pope and takes the name John Paul II (16 Oct.)
Solemn concelebrated Mass for the beginning of his ministry as Supreme Pastor of the Church (22 Oct.)
Pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Mentorella, in Lazio (29 Oct.)
Pilgrimage to the tomb of St Francis, Assisi, and the tomb of St Catherine of Siena at the Church of St Mary sopra Minerva, Rome (5 Nov.)
Taking possession of St John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome (12 Nov.)
1979 - Visit to Poland, Ireland, the United States and the U.N.
Visit to the Dominican Republic and Mexico (25 Jan.-1 Feb.)
Encyclical Letter Redemptor hominis on Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of Man (4 Mar.)
First Letter to Bishops and Priests for Holy Thursday (9 Apr.)
Beatification of Jacques-Desire Laval and Fr Francisco Coll (29 Apr.)
Pilgrimage to Montecassino, Italy (18 May)
First Visit to Poland (2-10 Jun.)
Consistory for the creation of 14 Cardinals (30 Jun.)
Visit to Belluno, Treviso and Canale d'Agordo, Italy (26 Aug.)
Pilgrimage to Ancona and the Marian shrine of Loreto, Italy (8 Sep.)
Visit to Ireland and the United States of America; visit to the United Nations (29 Sep.-8 Oct.)
Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi tradendae (16 Oct.)
Pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompei and to Naples, Italy (21 Oct.)
Visit to Turkey; ecumenical meeting with Dimitrios I, Patriarch of Constantinople, and signing of a Common Declaration (28-30 Nov.)
1980 - 5th Ordinary Synod, On the Family
Special Synod of Bishops for the Netherlands (14-31 Jan.)
Visit to Norcina and Valnerina, Italy (23 Mar.)
Visit to Turin, Italy (13 Apr.)
Visit to Africa (2-12 May)
Pilgrimage to Lisieux, France, and visit to UNESCO (30 May-2 Jun.)
Visit to Brazil (30 Jun.12 Jul.)
Visit to the tunnel of the Gran Sasso and to L'Aquila, Italy (30 Aug.)
Visit to Velletri, Italy (7 Sep.)
Visit to Frascati, Italy (8 Sep.)
Pilgrimage to Siena, Italy (14 Sep.)
Prayer at Montecassino, Italy (20 Sep.)
Fifth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the family (26 Sep.-25 Oct.)
- Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio (22 November 1981) would result
Pilgrimage to Subiaco, Italy, with the Bishops of Europe (28 Sep.)
Visit to Otranto, Italy (5 Oct.)
Beatification of Fr Luigi Orione, Sr Maria Anna Sala and Bartolo Longo (26 Oct.)
Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany (15-19 Nov.)
Visit to Basilicata and Campania (25 Nov.)
Encyclical Letter Dives in misericordia on God the Father, Rich in Mercy (30 Nov.)
1981 - Assassination Attempt
Visit to the Far East (16-27 Feb.)
Visit to the workers of Terni, Italy (19 Mar.)
Pilgrimage to Sotto il Monte and Bergamo, Italy (26 Apr.)
Attempt on his life in St Peter's Square (13 May)
Prayer from the Gemelli Hospital, Rome: 'I pray for the brother who shot me and whom I sincerely forgive' (17 May)
Return to the Vatican from Gemelli Hospital (3 Jun.)
Encyclical Letter Laborem exercens on the dignity of work (14 Sep.)
Pilgrimage to Collevalenza and Todi Italy; Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris consortio (22 Nov.)
Entrustment of all the peoples of the world to Mary Immaculate, Piazza di Spagna, Rome (8 Dec.)
1982 - Visits to Fátima, Portugal, Africa, Great Britain, Argentina, Geneva and Spain
Visit to Africa (12-19 Feb.)
Pilgrimage to Assisi with the Italian Bishops for the eighth centenary of the birth of St Francis (12 Mar.)
Visit to the Solvay factory in Livorno, Italy (19 Mar
Prayer at the Fosse Ardeatine where 335 people were killed in 1944 (21 Mar.)
Pilgrimage to Bologna and San Lazzaro di Savena, Italy (18 Apr.)
Visit to Portugal; prayer of gratitude at the Marian shrine of Fatima (12-15 May)
Visit to Great Britain (28 May-2 Jun.)
Visit to Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (10-13 Jun.)
Visit to Geneva, Switzerland (15 Jun.)
Visit to Rimini, Italy, and San Marino (29 Aug.)
Pilgrimage to the Camaldolese monastery, of Fonte Avellana, Italy (5 Sep.)
Visit to Sarmeola di Rubano and Padua, Italy (12 Sep.)
Visit to Albano, Italy (19 Sep.)
Pilgrimage to Concesio and Brescia, Italy (26 Sep.)
Canonization of St Maximilian Mary Kolbe (10 Oct.)
Visit to Spain (31 Oct.-9 Nov.).
Visit to Belice and Palermo, Italy (20-21 Nov.)
1983 - Extraordinary Jubilee for the 1950th Anniversary of the Redemption; Visits to Central America, Belize, Haiti , Poland (2nd), Lourdes, France, & Austria
Visit to Rieti and Greccio, Italy (2 Jan.)
Apostolic Letter Aperite portas Redemptori, opening the Extraordinary Jubilee for the 1950th anniversary of the Redemption (6 Jan.)
Apostolic Constitution Sacrae disciplinae leges, promulgating the new Code of Canon Law (25 Jan.)
Consistory for the creation of 18 Cardinals (2 Feb.)
Visit to Central America, Belize and Haiti (2-10 Mar.)
Pilgrimage among the workers of San Salvo and Termoli, Italy (19 Mar.)
Opening of the Holy Door for Jubilee of the Redemption (25 Mar.)
Visit to Lombardy, Italy (20-22 May)
Second Visit to Poland (16-23 Jun)
Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France (14-15 Aug.)
Visit to Palestrina, Italy (18 Aug.)
Visit to Austria (10-13 Sep.)
Sixth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on reconciliation and penance (29 Sep.-29 Oct.)
Canonization of St Leopold Mandic (16 Oct.)
Visit to the Rebibbia prison and meeting with Ali Agca: "Today I was able to meet my would-be assassin, whom I again forgive" (27 Dec.)
1984 - Visits to Korea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Canada, Spain, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico
Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris (11 Feb.)
Visit to Bari and Bitonto, Italy (26 Feb.)
Apostolic Exhortation Redemptionis donum (29 Mar.)
Closes the Holy Door for the conclusion of the Jubilee of the Redemption (22 Apr.)
Visit to Korea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Taiwan (2-12 May)
Visit to Viterbo, Italy (27 May)
Visit to Switzerland (12-17 Jun.)
Visit to Fano, Italy (12 Aug.)
Visit to the Focolare movement's Mariapolis Centre in Rocca di Papa, Italy (19 Aug.)
Visit to Alatri, Italy (2 Sep.)
Visit to Canada; beatification of Marie-Leonie Paradis (9-21 Sep.)
Visit to Calabria, Italy (5-7 Oct.)
Visit to Spain, Santo Domingo and Puerto Rico (10-13 Oct.)
Pilgrimage to places associated with St Charles Borromeo (2-4 Nov.)
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitentia (2 Dec.)
1985 - Visits to Central & South America, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium, Africa, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein
Visit to Central and South America (26 Jan.-6 Feb.)
Motu Proprio, Dolentium hominum, establishing the Pontifical Commission for Pastoral Assistance to Health-Care Workers (11 Feb.)
Visit to the Fucino and Avezzano, Italy (24 Mar.)
Meeting at St John Lateran for International Youth Year; Apostolic Letter to the Youth of the World for International Youth Year (30-31 Mar.)
Pilgrimage to Loreto, Italy (11 Apr.)
Visit to the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium (11-21 May)
Consistory for the creation of 28 Cardinals (25 May)
Pilgrimage to Salerno, Italy (26 May)
Encyclical Epistle Slavorum Apostoli (2 Jun.)
Pilgrimage to the Veneto, Italy (15-17 Jun.)
Visit to Teramo, Italy (30 Jun.)
Visit to Africa (8-19 Aug.)
Pilgrimage to Switzerland and Liechtenstein (8 Sep.)
Visit to Genoa, Italy (21-22 Sep.)
Cyril and Methodius Jubilee with the Bishops of Europe (13 Oct.)
Visit to Sardinia, Italy (18-20 Oct.)
Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops 20 years after the Second Vatican Council (24 Nov.-8 Dec.)
1986 - Visits to India, Columbia, France, the Far East and Oceania
Visit to India (31 Jan.-1 Feb.)
Visit to Prato, Italy (19 Mar.)
First World Youth Day (23 Mar.)
Visit to the Synagogue of Rome (13 Apr.)
Visit to Romagna, Italy (8-11 May)
Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem on the God the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of Life (18 May)
Visit to Colombia (1-8 Jul.)
Visit to Val d'Aosta, Italy (6-7 Sep.)
Visit to France, including Taize, Paray-le-Monial and Ars (4-7 Oct.)
Pilgrimage to Fiesole and Florence, Italy (18-19 Oct.)
Visit to Perugia, Italy (26 Oct.)
World Day of Prayer for Peace with the leaders of Christian and non-Christian religions in Assisi, Italy (27 Oct.)
Visit to the Far East and Oceania (18 Nov.-1 Dec.)
1987 - Marian Year, Visits to Uruguay, Chile and Argentina, Germany, Poland (3rd), United States & Canada
Visit to Civitavecchia, Italy (19 Mar.)
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Mater on Mary, the Mother of the Redeemer (25 Mar.)
Visit to Uruguay, Chile and Argentina, including the celebration of the Second World Youth Day (31 Mar.-13 Apr.)
Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany; beatification of Edith Stein in Cologne (30 Apr.-4 May)
Visit to Puglia, Italy (23-25 May)
Apostolic Letter Sescentesima anniversaria for the sixth centenary of the Baptism of Lithuania (5 Jun.)
Opening of the Marian Year on the Solemnity of Pentecost (6 Jun.)
Third Visit to Poland (8-14 Jun.)
Visit to the Diocese of Belluno-Feltre, Italy (12 Jul.)
Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini for the bicentenary of the death of St Alphonsus Liguori (1 Aug.)
Visit to the United States and Canada (10-21 Sep.)
Seventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the laity (1 Oct.-30 Oct.)
Beatification of 85 martyrs of England, Scotland and Wales (22 Nov.)
Visit of Dimitrios I, Patriarch of Constantinople, and signing of a Joint Declaration (3-7 Dec.)
Apostolic Letter Duodecimum saeculum on the 1,200th anniversary of the Second Council of Nicaea (4 Dec.)
Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo rei socialis (30 Dec.)
1988 - Visits to Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, Austria, Africa, France
Apostolic Letter Euntes in mundum for the millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus' (25 Jan.)
Letter Iuvenum patris for the centenary of the death of St John Bosco (31 Jan.)
Message Magnum Baptismi donum to Ukrainian Catholics (14 Feb.)
Third World Youth Day in St Peter's Square (27 Mar.)
Visit to Verona, Italy (16-17 Apr.)
Visit to Civita Castellana, Italy (1 May)
Visit to Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru and Paraguay (7-19 May)
Visit to Emilia, Italy (3-7 Jun.)
Visit to Messina, Tindari and Reggio Calabria, Italy (11-12 Jun.)
Canonization of 117 Vietnamese martyrs (19 Jun.)
Visit to Austria (23-27 Jun.)
Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus on the Roman Curia; Consistory for the creation of 24 Cardinals (28 Jun.)
Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei, on the lawful celebration of the Missal of 1962 (2 Jul.)
Conclusion of the Marian Year in St Peter's (15 Aug.)
Pilgrimage to Turin, Italy, the land of St John Bosco (24 Sep.)
Visit to Africa (10-19 Sep.)
Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem on the Dignity of Women (1 Oct.)
Visit to France (8-11 Oct.)
Apostolic Letter Vicesimus quintus annus for the 25th anniversary of the Constitution on the Sacred liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium (4 Dec.)
Visit to Fermo and Porto San Giorgio, Italy; Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici (30 Dec.)
1989
Motu Proprio establishing the Labour office of the Apostolic See (1 Jan.)
Visit to Madagascar, La Reunion, Zambia and Malawi; beatification of Victoire Rasoamanarivo, and Bro. Scubilion (28 Apr.-6 May)
Visit to Grosseto, Italy (21 May)
Ecumenical Pilgrimage to Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden (1-10 Jun.)
Visit to Gaeta, Itri and Formia, Italy (25 Jun.)
Pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Oropa and the tomb of Pier Giorgio Frassati, Italy (16 Jul.)
Visit to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, for the Fourth World Youth Day (19-21 Aug.)
Letter for the 50th anniversary of the Second World War and Message to the Episcopal Conference of Poland (26 Aug.)
Apostolic Letter on the situation in Lebanon and appeal to all Muslims (7 Sep.) Visit to Orte and Trevignano. Romano, Italy (11 Sep.)
Visit to Pisa, Volterra and Lucca, Italy (22-24 Sep.)
Visit of Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury, and signing of a Common Declaration (30 Sep.-2 Oct.)
Prayer for Lebanon with the Dioceses of Italy in St Peter's Square on the feast of St Francis of Assisi (4 Oct.)
Visit to the Far East and Mauritius (6-16 Oct.)
Visit to Taranto, Italy (28-29 Oct.)
Canonization of Agnes of Bohemia and Albert Adam Chmielowski (12 Nov.)
Visit of Mikhail Gorbachev, President of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (1 Dec.)
1990
Sixth Visit to Africa (25 Jan.-1 Feb.)
Visit to Ivrea, Italy, and meeting with workers (18-19 Mar.)
Fifth World Youth Day in St Peter's Square (8 Apr.)
Visit to Czechoslovakia (21-22 Apr.)
Visit to Mexico and Curacao; at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, beatification of three young martyrs and a priest, and the recognition of the cult of Juan Diego (6-14 May)
Beatification of Pier Giorgio Frassati (20 May)
Visit to Malta (25-27 May)
Eucharistic pilgrimage to Orvieto, Italy, on the feast of Corpus Christi (17 Jun.)
For the first time in 50 years, all the Ukrainian Catholic Bishops meet the Pope at the Vatican (25-26 Jun.)
Apostolic Letter to the religious of Latin America for the fifth centenary of the evangelization of the New World (29 Jun.)
Visit to Benevento, Italy (2 Jul.)
Seventh Visit to Africa; consecration of the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (1-10 Sep.)
Visit to Ferrara, Comacchio and Argenta, Italy (22-23 Sep.)
Eighth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the formation of priests in the circumstances of the present day (30 Sep.-28 Oct.)
Beatification of two exemplary priests, Giuseppe Allamano and Annibale Maria Di Francia (7 Oct.)
Visit to Genoa, Italy, for the fifth centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Guard (14 Oct.)
Promulgation of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (18 Oct.)
Visit to Campania, Italy (9-13 Nov.)
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio (7 Dec.)
Apostolic Letter for the fourth centenary of the death of St John of the Cross (14 Dec.)
1991
Conclusion of the prayer and study meeting with the Patriarchs and Bishops of the countries involved in the Gulf War (6 Mar.)
Visit to Camerino-San Severino and Fabriano-Matelica, Italy, and meeting with workers (18-19 Mar.)
Extraordinary Consistory on the new evangelization and the defence of life (4-7 Apr.)
Reorganization of the Catholic Church in Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan (13 Apr.)
Visit to Basilicata, Italy (27-28 Apr.)
Encyclical Letter Centesimus annus (1 May)
Pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal (10-13 May)
Fourth Visit to Poland (1-9 Jun.)
Consistory for the creation of 22 Cardinals (28 Jun.)
Visit to Susa, Italy (14 Jul.)
Sixth World Youth Day in Czestochowa, Poland; first visit to Hungary (13-20 Aug.)
World Day of Prayer for Peace in
Croatia and the former Yugoslavia (8 Sep.)
Ecumenical celebration in St Peter's Basilica for the sixth centenary of the canonization of St Birgitta of Sweden (5 Oct.)
Visit to Brazil (12-21 Oct.)
Beatification of Adolph Kolping (27 Oct.)
Canonization of Raphael Kalinowski (17 Nov.)
Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops (28 Nov.-14 Dec.)
1992
Eighth Visit to Africa, including Gorre Island, symbol of the slave trade (19-26 Feb.)
Visit to Sorrento-Castellammare di Stabia, Italy, and meeting with workers (19 Mar.)
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis (25 Mar.)
Beatification of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer and Josephine Bakhita (17 May)
Visit to Angola, Sao Tome and Principe (4-10 Jun.)
Official approval of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (25 Jun.)
Intestinal surgery and recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital (12-28 Jul.)
Mass at St John Lateran for the opening of the Public Assembly of the Roman Diocesan Synod (3 Oct.)
Visit to the Dominican Republic for the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate (0-14 Oct.)
Apostolic Constitution Fidei depositum on the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (16 Nov.)
Solemn presentation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (7-8 and 9 Dec.)
1993
Pilgrimage to Assisi, Italy, to pray for reconciliation among the peoples of Europe, especially in the Balkans (9-10 Jan.)
Tenth Visit to Africa: Benin, Uganda and Sudan 3-10 Feb.)
Visit to Sabina-Poggio Italy, and meeting workers (19 Mar.)
Visit to Albania; ordination of four Bishops to reconstitute the hierarchy 25 Apr.)
Visit to Sicily, Italy (8-10 May)
Visit to Arezzo and Cortona, Italy (23 May)
Conclusion of the Roman Diocesan Synod on Pentecost Eve (29 May)
Visit to Spain (12-17 Jun.)
Visit to Macerata. and Foligno, Italy (19-20 Jun.)
Encyclical Letter Veritatis splendor (6 Aug.)
Visit to Jamaica, Merida and Denver for the Eighth World Youth Day (9-16 Aug.)
Visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (4-10 Sep.)
Pilgrimage to the Franciscan shrine of La Verna and the monastery of Camaldoli, Italy (17 Sep.)
Visit to Asti, Italy, and the beatification of Giuseppe Marello (25-26 Sep.)
Recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for dislocated shoulder (11-12 Nov.)
1994
Holy Mass in St Peter's Basilica for peace in the Balkans (23 Jan.)
Letter to Families (2 Feb.)
Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops (10 Apr.-8 May)
Beatification of Gianna Beretta Molla, Isidore Bakanja and Elisabetta Canori Mora (24 Apr,)
Surgery and recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for a fractured femur (29 Apr.-27 May)
Signing of the Apostolic Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis (22 May)
Message for the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising (1 Aug.)
Mass for Sarajevo offered at Castel Gandolfo (8 Sep.)
Visit to Zagreb, Croatia (10-11 Sep.)
Visit to Lecce, Italy (17-18 Sep.)
Meeting with Families in St Peter's Square (8-9 Oct.)
Ninth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on consecrated life (2-29 Oct.)
Visit to Sicily, Italy (4-6 Nov.)
Apostolic Letter Tertio millennio adveniente (10 Nov.)
Common Christological Declaration with the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East (11 Nov.)
Consistory for the creation of 30 Cardinals (26 Nov.)
Pilgrimage to Loreto, Italy, for the conclusion of the Great Prayer for Italy (10 Dec.)
Letter to Children in the Year of the Family (13 Dec.)
1995
Visit to Asia and Oceania; 10th World Youth Day in Manila; beatification of Mary MacKillop, Peter To Rot and Joseph Vaz (11-21 Jan.)
Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae (25 Mar.)
Visit to Trent, Italy (29-30 Apr.)
Apostolic Letter Orientale lumen (2 May)
Message for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe (8 May)
Visit to the Czech Republic and Poland (20-22 May)
Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint (25 May)
Visit to Belgium for the beatification of Fr Damien de Veuster (3-4 Jun.)
Visit of Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople, and signing of a Common Declaration (29 Jun.)
Letter to Women (29 Jun.)
Visit to Slovakia for the beatification of the Martyrs of Kosice (30 Jun.-3 Jul.)
Visit to Loreto, Italy, for pilgrimage of European young people (9-10 Sep.)
Visit to Africa for release of Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa (14-20 Sep.)
Beatification of 64 victims of the French Revolution and 45 victims of the Spanish Civil War (1 Oct.)
Visit to the United States and the United Nations (4-9 Oct.)
Meeting with diocesan Bishops and papal representatives of the former Yugoslavia (17 Oct.)
Apostolic Letter for the fourth centenary of the Union of Brest (12 Nov.)
Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops (26 Nov.-14 Dec.)
1996
Visit to Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Venezuela (5-12 Feb.)
Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici gregis (22 Feb.)
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Vita consecrata (29 Mar.)
Visit to Colle di Val d'Elsa, Italy, and meeting with workers; Mass in Siena (30 Mar.)
Visit to Tunisia (14 Apr.)
Apostolic Letter for the 350th anniversary of the Union of Uzhorod (22 Apr.)
Visit to Como, Italy (4-5 May)
Visit to Slovenia (17-19 May)
Opening of Rome's City Mission on Pentecost Eve (25 May)
Visit to Germany (21-23 Jun.)
Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Ukrainian rite for the fourth centenary of the Union of Brest (7 Jul.)
Visit to Hungary (6-7 Sep.)
Visit to France for the anniversary of King Clovis (19-22 Sep.)
Appendectomy and recovery at Rome's Gemelli Hospital (8 Oct.-15 Oct.)
Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Ruthenian rite for the 350th anniversary of the Union of Uzhorod (27 Oct.)
Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine Ruthenian rite for the 350th anniversary of the Union of Uzhorod (27 Oct.)
Concelebrated Mass with 700 priests for the 50th anniversary of priestly ordination (1 Nov.)
Celebrations for the 50th anniversary of priestly ordination; publication of Gift and Mystery (7-10 Nov.)
Audience to Fidel Castro (19 Nov.)
First Vespers for the opening of the three-year period of immediate preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 (30 Nov.)
Visit of Leonard Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, and signing of a Common Declaration (3-6 Dec.)
Message to the Church in China (3 Dec.)
Visit of Karekin I Sarkissian, Patriarch of All Armenians, and signing of a Common Declaration (10-13 Dec.)
1997 - Year of the Son
Visit of Aram I Keshishian, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians, and signing of a Common Declaration (23-26 Jan.)
Visit to Sarajevo (12-13 Apr.)
Visit to the Czech Republic for the millennium of the martyrdom of St Adalbert, Bishop of Prague (25-27 Apr.)
Visit to Lebanon; publication of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation A New Hope for Lebanon (10-11 May.)
Sixth Visit to Poland; conclusion of the International Eucharistic Congress in Wroclaw; canonization of Bl. Hedwig and John of Dukla; 600th anniversary of the theological faculty of the Jagiellonian University (31 May-10 Jun.)
Visit to France for l2th World Youth Day (21-24 Aug.)
Apostolic Letter Laetamur magnopere approving and promulgating the Latin typical edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (8 Sep.)
Visit to Bologna, Italy (27-28 Sep.)
Visit to Brazil for the Second World Meeting with Families (2-6 Oct.)
St Therese of Lisieux is declared a doctor of the Church (19 Oct.)
Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops (16 Nov.-12 Dec.)
Holy Mass in St Peter's Basilica for the opening of the second year of immediate preparation for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 (30 Nov.)
1998 - Year of the Holy Spirit
Visit to Annifo, Cesi and Assisi, Italy (3 Jan.)
Visit to Cuba (21-26 Jan.)
Consistory for the creation of 20 Cardinals (21 Feb.)
Publication of the document We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah (12 Mar.)
Visit to Nigeria (21-23 Mar.)
Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops (19 Apr.-14 May)
Visit to Vercelli and Turin, Italy; prayer before the Shroud (23-24 May)
Meeting and Holy Mass with ecclesial movements and new communities (30-31 May)
Apostolic Letter Dies Domini (31 May)
Visit to Austria (19-21 Jun.)
Motu Proprio Apostolos suos (21 May)
Motu Proprio Ad tuendam fidem (28 May)
Encyclical Letter Fides et ratio (14 Sep.)
Visit to Chiavari and Brescia, Italy (18-20 Sep.)
Visit to Croatia for the beatification of Alojzije Stepinac (2-4 Oct.)
Canonization of Edith Stein (11 Oct.)
John Paul II celebrates his 20th Anniversary of Pontificate and 40th Anniversary of Episcopal Ministry (18 Oct.).
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Italy, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (Rome, the Quirinale Palace). (20 Oct.)
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 Nov.).
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.).
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 (29 Nov.).
1999 - Year of the Father
John Paul II receives in audience the Prime Minister of Italy, Massimo D’Alema (8 Jan.) .
Pastoral Visit in Mexico City and St. Louis, USA for the Closing of the Special Assembly for America of the Synod of Bishops (22-28 Jan.). Apostolic Voyage 85
Signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America, in Mexico City (22 Jan.).
First "ad limina visit" of the Bishops of Laos and Cambodia (11 Feb.).
John Paul II receives in audience the President of Iran, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (11 Mar.) .
War in Kosovo: Archbishop Tauran , Secretary for Relations with States, in a Special Mission to Belgrade, brings the Holy Father’s personal message to the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milosevic (1 Apr.) . The Holy father also sends a message to the Patriarch of Moscow, His Holiness Aleksy II , in departure for Belgrade (18 Apr.).
John Paul II renews his appeal for peace in Kosovo in his Easter Message Urbi et Orbi (4 Apr.)
Letter to Artists (23 April).
John Paul II receives in audience the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Ariel Sharon (26 Apr.) .
Beatification of Padre Pio of Pietrelcina in St. Peter’s Square. At the end of the ceremony, the Pope went to the Square of St. John in Lateran by helicopter to recite the Regina Caeli with those faithful who, due to such a crowd, were unable to enter into St. Peter’s Square. (2 May)
Pastoral Visit in Romania (7-9 May). Apostolic Voyage 86
In Bucharest, Romania, the Holy Father met with His Beatitude Teoctist , patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and with the Holy Synod. At the end of the meeting, the Pope and Patriarch Teoctist sign a joint declaration for peace in Kosovo (8 May).
John Paul II receives in audience Prof. Ibrahim Rugova (10 May) .
The document The Gift of Authority , produced by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, ARCIC (12 May).
Solemnity of Corpus Christi and Day of Prayer for Peace in the Balkans (3 Jun.).
Pastoral Visit in Poland (5-17 Jun.). Apostolic Voyage 87
Letter concerning Pilgrimage to the Places Linked with the History of Salvation.(29 Jun.)
Message to H.H. Karekin I , Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of all the Armenians, severely ill. The Patriarch died that same afternoon. (29 Jun.) The visit of John Paul II in Armenia, scheduled for 2-4 July 1999, was postponed.
John Paul II sends a Message to the Bishops of East Timor in which he expresses his closeness to those experiencing the horror of the civil war (9 Sep.).
Pastoral visit in Slovenia (19 Sep.). Apostolic Voyage 88
Inauguration following the restoration of the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica (30 Sep.)
Second Special Assembly for Europe of the Sinod of Bishops, on the theme: "Iesus Christus vivens in Ecclesia sua, fons spei pro Europa" (1-23 October 1999).
Apostolic Letter issued Motu Proprio Spes Aedificandi - proclaiming Saint Bridget of Sweden, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Co-Patronesses of Europe (1 Oct.).
Letter to the Elderly, on the occasion of the International Year of the Elderly, promoted by the United Nations, published 26 October 1999.
Offical visit of the President of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Campi (19 Oct.)
In St. Peter’s Square, the closing of the Inter-religious assembly "On the threshold of the III millennium: collaboration among the different religions" (28 Oct.)
Prior to praying the Angelus, the Pope expresses his thanks for the signing today in Augsburg, Germany, by the Catholic Church and the World Lutheran Federation of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification; Official Common Statement by the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church; and Annex to the Official Common Statement. (31 Oct.)
Pastoral Visit in New Delhi for the Conclusion of the Special Assembly for Asia of the Synod of Bishops and in Georgia (5-9 November 1999). Apostolic Voyage 89
Signing - in the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi - of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia (6 Nov.)
Inauguration of the recently finished mosaic work and restoration of Redemptoris Mater Chapel, which is located inside the Vatican's Apostolic Palace (14 Nov.).
The start of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 : Opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica (24 Dec.).
Opening of the Holy Door of the Basilica of St. John Lateran (25 Dec.).
World-wide television coverage of the Holy Father’s message and Urbi et Orbi blessing for the passage into the Year 2000 (31 December 1999).
2000 - The Great Jubilee
Opening of the Holy Door of St. Mary Major Basilica (1 Jan.).
Children’s Jubilee . At the close of the event, the Pope was awarded the John XXIII International Peace Prize to the non-governmental organization "ATD - Aide a toute detresse - Quart Monde" (2 Jan.).
Opening of the Holy Door of the patriarchal basilica of St. Paul’s Outside-the Walls and ecumenical celebration with the representatives of various Churches and ecclesial communities on the occasion of the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18 Jan.).
Inauguration of the new entrance of the Vatican Museums (7 Feb.).
John Paul II received in audience the president of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat and a Palestinian delegation, for the occasion of the signing of a Basic Agreement between the Holy See and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (15 Feb.).
In the Paul VI Hall, Commemoration of Abraham "Our Father in the Faith" , as the first gesture of his jubilee pilgrimage to the places linked with the history of salvation (22 Feb.).
Jubilee Pilgrimage to Mount Sinai (24-26 February 2000). Apostolic Voyage 90
Visit of the President of Korea, Kim Dae-jung (4 Mar.).
The Day of Pardon of the Holy Year 2000 celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica (cfr. Document Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past, International Theological Commission, 7 March 2000).(12 Mar.)
Jubilee Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (20-26 March 2000). Apostolic Voyage 91
First canonization of the Jubilee Year: the Pope canonized Polish Blessed Maria Faustyna Kowalska (1905-1938), virgin of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (30 Apr.).
Celebration of the Jubilee of Workers at Tor Vergata, Rome (1 May).
Ecumenical Commemoration of the Witnesses to the Faith of the 20th century, held at the Coliseum, Rome (7 May).
Apostolic Visit in Fátima (12-13 May 2000). Apostolic Voyage 92
At the end of the Beatification ceremony at Fátima of Francesco and Jacinta Marto, Cardinal Angelo Sodano announced that the "third part" of the secret of Fátima will be made public. The Message of Fátima will be published in its entirety on 26 June 2000 (13 May).
Celebration of the Jubilee of Priests and Holy Mass for the 80th birthday of the Holy Father John Paul II (18 May).
Canonization of 27 Blesseds, among which were 25 Mexican martyrs (21 May).
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin (5 Jun.) .
John Paul II expresses his satisfaction for the clemency granted to Alì Agca by the President of Italy during this jubilee year (13 Jun.).
John Paul II lunches with 200 poor and homeless people to celebrate the Jubilee (15 Jun.).
Celebration of the 43rd International Eucharistic Congress held in Rome for the occasion of the Jubilee (18-25 Jun.).
Message for the Jubilee in Prisons (24 Jun.)
Visit to the Roman prison Regina Coeli to celebrate the Jubilee in Prisons (9July).
Celebration of the 15th World Youth Day : more than 2 million young people were present at the Campus of Tor Vergata (Rome) for the Jubilee with the Pope (15 - 20 August).
Beatification of 5 Servants of God, among which were Pope Pius IX and Pope John XXIII (3 Sep.).
Declaration Dominus Iesus on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, prepared by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (signed 6 August 2000). (5 Sep.)
Canonization of 123 Blesseds, among which were 120 Martyrs in China (1 Oct.).
Jubilee of Bishops : in St. Peter’s Square, the Pope together with the bishops repeat the Act of Entrustment to Mary Most Holy before the statue of Our Lady of Fátima (8 Oct.)
Jubilee of Families (14-15 Oct.)
Visit of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of England and of H.R.H. Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh (17 Oct.).
Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio E sancti Thomae Mori for the proclamation of St. Thomas More as Patron of Statesmen and Politicians. (31 Oct.)
Jubilee of Government Leaders and Politicians (4 - 5 Nov.).
His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians visits the Holy Father and the Church of Rome – Signing of the joint communiqué (8 Nov.).
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord in the Year of the Great Jubilee. The Holy Father celebrated both the midnight Mass and traditional Christmas Urbi et Orbi message for the first time ever in St. Peter's Square (24-25 Dec.).
2001
Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and singing of the Te Deum following the conclusion of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 . Signing of the Apostolic Letter Novo millennio ineunte (6 Jan.).
Ecumenical celebration in the Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside-the-Walls, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (25 Jan.)
Divine Liturgy in the Armenian rite celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the 1700th anniversary of the Baptism of the Armenian People - . For the occasion, on 2 February 2001 the Holy Father signed the Apostolic Letter Dio meraviglioso (18 Feb.).
Eighth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 42 new Cardinals and the publication of 2 Cardinals in pectore since 1998 (21 Feb.).
The New Fundamental Law of Vatican City State went into effect (signed by the Holy Father on 26 November 2000). (22 Feb.)
Beatification of 233 Servants of God, martyrs in Spain from 1936 to 1939 (11 Mar.).
Jubilee Pilgrimage “in the footsteps of Saint Paul the Apostle”: Greece, Syria, Malta (4-9 May). Apostolic Voyage 93
Sixth Plenary Reunion of the College of Cardinals (Extraordinary Consistory) , to reflect on the prospects of the Church in the Third Millennium, in light of Novo millennio ineunte (21-23 May 2001).
Pastoral visit to Ukraine (23-27 June). Apostolic Voyage 94
1,000th General Audience of the Pontificate of John Paul II (1 August).
Pastoral Visit in Kazakhstan and Apostolic Voyage in Armenia on the occasion of the 1700 years of Christianity in the Country (22-27 September 2001). Apostolic Voyage 95
X Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, on the theme: "The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World" (30 September-27 October 2001).
First Beatification of a married couple : Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini (20 October).
Message to the International Meeting "Matteo Ricci: for a dialogue between China and the West", to mark the fourth centenary of the arrival of the Jesuit missionary and scientist in Beijing (24 October).
Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September and during the war in Afghanistan, the Pope before praying the Angelus, invited Catholics to a day of fasting for peace ( 14 December 2001 ) and invited leaders of the world's religions to a Day of Prayer for Peace in the World in Assisi (24 January 2002) .
Promulgation of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Oceania . Following the signing of the document in the Vatican, the Pope sent the text of the Exhortation by e-mail to all the dioceses in Oceania (22 November).
Meeting of the Pope with Bishops from the Holy Land, on the theme: "Peace in the Holy Land and the Future of Christians" (13 December).
300th Pastoral Visit of John Paul II to a parish within the diocese of Rome (which total 334) (16 December).
2002
Priestly Association of St. John Mary Vianney of Campos, Brazil, returns to full communion and is recognized as an Apostolic Administration. The Pope concedes the use of the Roman Rite and the liturgical discipline of St. Pius V (18 January).
Day of Prayer for Peace in the World at Assisi , with members of Churches and ecclesial communities and with representatives of other religions (24 January).
Creation of an ecclesiastical province and elevation to the rank of diocese of the four apostolic administrations of the Russian Federation (11 February).
Pope John Paul II received in audience a Delegation of the Greek Orthodox Church, headed by Metropolitan d’Attikis, Panteleimon (11 March).
Day of Prayer for Peace in the Holy Land, called by Pope John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday, as the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem was under siege (7 April).
Apostolic Letter in the form of Motu Proprio Misericordia Dei on certain aspects of the celebration of the sacrament of penance (7 April).
On 1 May, the Holy Father sent Cardinal Roger Etchegaray in special Mission to Jerusalem.
Pastoral visit to Ischia (May 5).
Apostolic Visit in Azerbaijan and Bulgaria (22-26 May 2002).
Apostolic Voyage 96
Canonization of Blessed Pio de Pietrelcina (June 16).
Apostolic Visit in Toronto for the XVII World Youth Day, Guatemala City and Mexico City (23 July - 2 August 2002). Apostolic Voyage 97
Apostolic Visit in Poland in occasion of the Dedication of the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków-Łagiewniki (16-19 August 2002). Apostolic Voyage 98
Ecumenical celebration of Vespers in the Vatican Basilica, in occasion of the VII Centenary of the birth of Saint Brigit of Sweden, Co-patron of Europe (4 October).
Canonization of Blessed Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (6 October).
Pope John Paul II met with His Beatitude Teoctist, the Orthodox patriarch of Romania. They exchanged speeches and signed a joint declaration. (7-13 October 2002).
Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae on the Most Holy Rosary (16 October).
The Pope introduces the "mysteries of light" and proclaims a Year of the Rosary (October 2002-0ctober 2003) - The beginning of the 25th year of Pontificate.
An honorary citizenship of Rome is conferred on Pope John Paul II (31 October).
Visit to the Italian Parliament in a public session held in the Palace of Montecitorio, Rome (14 November).
2003
Television linkup with Manila (the Philippines) in occasion of the IV World Meeting of Families (25 January).
The Holy Father named Cardinal Roger Etchegaray as his Special Envoy to the Iraqi Authorities in Iraq (10 February) and Cardinal Pio Laghi to the President of the United States of America in Washington (l March).
In occasion of Ash Wednesday, day of fasting for the cause of peace, above all in the Middle East (5 March).
Presentation of "Roman Triptych - Meditations", a book of poems by Pope John Paul II (March 6).
Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia - on the Eucharist in its relationship to the Church (17 April).
Apostolic Visit in Spain (3-4 May 2003). Apostolic Voyage 99
Apostolic Visit to Croatia (5-9 June). 100th Apostolic Voyage
Signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa (28 June)
Apostolic Visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina (22 June).
Apostolic Visit to Slovakia (11-14 Sept).
Pastoral Visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompei (7 October 2003)
2004
Apostolic Voyage to Bern, Switzerland (5 - 6 June 2004)
Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France(14 - 15 August 2004)
Visit to Loreto, Italy (5 September 2004)
2005
Hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic for the flu and spasms of the throat (1 -10 February)
Hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic for breathing difficulties, and for the insertion of a tube in his throat to facilitate breathing (24 February)
Falls ill with a high fever as a result of a urinary tract infection (30 March).
At 9:37 p.m., Saturday 2 April 2005, Pope John Paul passed to his eternal reward in the papal apartment of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican.
