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Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
EVENTS IN THE PONTIFICATE
OF JOHN PAUL II
| 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 |
| 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 |
| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 |
1978
October 16
Cardinal Karol Wojtyła is elected successor to Pope John Paul I, the 264th Pope of the Catholic Church and takes the name John Paul II .
October 17
FirstUrbi et Orbi radio message of John Paul II.
October 22
Solemn inauguration of his ministry as universal Pastor of the Church.
October 23
John Paul II's historic embrace of Cardinal Wyszyński .
October 25
First visit to Castelgandolfo: visit to the parish church and papal villa.
October 29
Visit to the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Mentorella, Rome.
November 5
Visit 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.
November 12
As Bishop of Rome, John Paul II takes possession of St. John Lateran Basilica.
December 5
First visit to the parishes in the diocese of Rome: S. Francesco Saverio at Garbatella.
1979
January 24
John Paul II accepts the request made by Argentina and Chile for the Holy See’s mediation in solving the controversy between the two countries.
January 24
John Paul II receives in audience the Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko .
January 25
Pastoral Visit to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Mexico for the Third General Conference of the Latin American Bishops and the Bahamas (25 January-1 February 1979).
Apostolic Voyage 1
[English, Italian ]
March 4
First Encyclical Letter Redemptor hominis [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Man, published 15 March 1979.
April 28
Archbishop Agostino Casaroli is appointed Pro-Secretary of State and Pro-prefect of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church.
June 2
Pastoral Visit in Poland (2-10 June 1979).
Apostolic Voyage 2
[English, Italian ]
June 2
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 30
Celebration of the First Consistory in his pontificate for the creation of 14 Cardinals, among whom were Cardinal Agostino Casaroli , Secretary of State. (One additional Cardinal was reserved "in pectore" - Chinese Ignatius Kung Pin-mei , whose appointment was published only in the Consistory of 28 June 1991).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
September 29
Pastoral Visit in Ireland, the U.N. and the United States of America (29 September-8 Octocber 1979).
Apostolic Voyage 3
[English, Italian ]
October 2
John Paul II addresses the General Assembly of the U.N. in New York.
October 16
Post-Synodal Pastoral Exhortation Catechesi tradendae [English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish ] on the Catechesis in Our Time, published 25 October 1979.
November 5
First Plenary Assembly of the College of Cardinals on the themes: "The structure of the Roman Curia. The Church and contemporary culture. The financial situation of the Holy See" (5-9 November 1979).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
November 28
Pastoral Visit in Turkey (28-30 November 1979).
Apostolic Voyage 4
[English, Italian ]
1980
January 14
Opening of the Particular Synod of Bishops of the Netherlands on: "The pastoral action of the Church in Holland in the present situation" (14-31 January 1980).
April 4
Good Friday: John Paul II hears confessions of the faithful for the first time in St. Peter's Basilica.
May 2
Pastoral Visit in Zaire, Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Upper Volta and Ivory Coast (2-12 May 1980).
Apostolic Voyage 5
[English, Italian ]
May 16
Official visit of the President of Portugal, General Antonio Ramalho Eanes .
May 30
Pastoral Visit in France (30 May-2 June 1980).
Apostolic Voyage 6
[English, Italian ]
June 2
John Paul II's address to UNESCO in Paris.
June 21
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter .
June 30
Pastoral Visit in Brazil (30 June-12 July 1980).
Apostolic Voyage 7
[English, Italian ]
August 20
For the first time John Paul II alludes to the events happening in Poland regarding Solidarność .
Sepember 26
Fifth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World" (26 September-25 October 1980).
September 28
Pastoral visit to Subiaco and meeting with the European Bishops.
October 17
Official visit of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and of H.R.H. Prince Philip , Duke of Edinburgh.
November 15
Pastoral Visit in West Germany (15-19 November 1980).
Apostolic Voyage 7
[English, Italian ]
November 25
Pastoral visit to Capodichino (Naples), Potenza, Balvano and Avellino , after the earthquake.
November 30
Encyclical Letter Dives in misericordia [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - On the Mercy of God, published 2 December 1980.
December 19
Official visit of President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Cvijetin Mijatovic .
December 30
Apostolic Letter Egregiae virtutis [Italian ] in which John Paul II proclaims Sts. Cyril and Methodius, together with St. Benedict, Patrons of Europe.
1981
January 15
John Paul II receives in audience a delegation headed by Lech Wałesa of the Polish Independent Syndicate Solidarność .
February 8
John Paul II meets with Rome's Chief Rabbi ElioToaff during his pastoral visit to the parish of Sts. Carlo e Biagio in Catinari.
February 16
Pastoral Visit in Pakistan, Philippines, Guam (USA), Japan and Anchorage (USA) (16-27 February 1981).
Apostolic Voyage 9
[English, Italian ]
May 13
At 5:19 p.m. a young turk Mehmet Alì Agca makes an attempt on the Pope's life while he was circling St. Peter's Square before his General Audience. Severly, wounded, the Pope was operated on for 6 hours at Gemelli hospital.
May 17
John Paul II recites the Angelus at Gemelli hospital: "Pray for the brother who shot me, whom I have sincerely forgiven".
May 31
John Paul II creates a Council of Cardinals to study the organizational and economic problems of the Holy See.
June 3
John Paul II returns to the Vatican after 22 days of recovery at Gemelli Hospital.
June 7
At the end of a mass celebrating the 1600th anniversary of the first Council of Constantinople and the 1550th anniversary of the Council of Ephesus, the Pope imparts the Apostolic Blessing in St. Peter’s Basilica.
In the afternoon, during the Vespers in St. Mary Major Basilica, John Paul II pronounces, through the use of a recorded broadcast, an Act of entrustment to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
June 20
John Paul II is newly hospitalized for a cytomegalovirus infection. On 5 August he undergoes a second operation. He returns to the Vatican on the 14th of August and from there goes to Castelgandolfo on August 16th.
July 13
First meeting of the Council of Cardinals for the study of organizational and economic problems of the Holy See.
September 14
Encyclical Letter Laborem exercens [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on Human Work.
November 22
Post-Synodal Pastoral Exhortation Familiaris Consortio [English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Role of the Family in the Modern World, published on 15 December 1981.
November 25
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
December 12
John Paul II sends a delegation from the Pontifical Academy of Sciences to the Presidents of the USA, USSR, Great Britain, France, and the UN, to present thier scientific document on the consequences of an eventual use of nuclear arms in Europe and in the world.
December 13
John Paul II invites prayers for the Polish nation, calling the situation a state of emergency.
1982
January 6
Apostolic Letter Caritatis Christi for the church in China.
February 12
Pastoral Visit in Nigeria, Benin, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea (12-19 February 1982).
Apostolic Voyage 10
[English, Italian ]
March 21
Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Chinese Church.
April 7
Official Visit of the President of Greece, Costantino Karamanlis .
May 12
Pastoral Visit in Portugal, one year after the assassination attempt on his life in St. Peter's Square (12-15 May 1982).
Apostolic Voyage 11
[English, Italian ]
May 13
Before the statue of Our Lady of Fátima, John Paul II recites the Act of consecration and entrustment of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
May 22
Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for justice and peace, for peace between Argentina and Great Britain (the Falkland Islands/Malvinas).
May 28
Pastoral Visit in Great Britain (28 May-2 June 1982).
Apostolic Voyage 12
[English, Italian ]
May 29
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.
June 7
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. They pledge to work for world peace and justice.
June 10
Pastoral Visit to Rio de Janeiro and in Argentina, in relation to the war between Argentina and Great Britain regarding the Falkland Islands/Malvinas (10-13 June 1982).
Apostolic Voyage 13
[English, Italian ]
June 15
Pastoral Visit in Genève .
Apostolic Voyage 14
[English, Italian ]
June 15
Speech by John Paul II at the 68th Session of the International Workers Conference in Geneva.
August 29
Pastoral Visit in the Republic of San Marino and Rimini .
Apostolic Voyage 15
[English, Italian ]
September 15
John Paul II receives in audience Yasser Arafat .
September 15
Renewed appeal for peace in Lebanon after the murder of President-elect Bechir Gemayel .
October 10
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.
October 19
Meeting with the President of Italy, Sandro Pertini at Castelporziano.
October 28
Official visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Karl Carstens .
October 31
Pastoral Visit in Spain for the closure of the 4th Centenary of the death of St. Teresa of Ávila (31 October-9 November 1982).
Apostolic Voyage 16
[English, Italian ]
November 9
Message to the peoples of Europe from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
November 23
Second Plenary Assembly 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' " (23-26 November 1982).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
November 26
John Paul II announces the Holy Year of Redemption from Lent 1983 to Easter 1984.
1983
January 6
Papal Bull Aperite portas Redemptori , announcing the Jubilee for the 1950th anniversary of the Redemption .
January 25
Apostolic Constitution Sacrae disciplinae leges [English, Italian ] for the promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law.
February 2
Second Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 18 cardinals.
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
March 2
Pastoral Visit in Lisbon (Portugal) and Central America (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and Haiti) (2-10 March 1983).
Apostolic Voyage 17
[English, Italian ]
March 25
Opening of the Holy Year of the Redemption 1983 (25 March 1983- 22 April 1984).
June 16
Pastoral Visit in Poland (16-23 June 1983).
Apostolic Voyage 18
[English, Italian ]
August 14
Pastoral Visit in Lourdes (14-15 August 1983).
Apostolic Voyage 19
[English, Italian ]
September 10
Pastoral Visit in Austria (10-13 September 1983).
Apostolic Voyage 20
[English, Italian ]
September 29
Sixth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on: "Penance and Reconciliation in the Mission of the Church" (29 September-29 October 1983).
October 16
In St. Peter’s Square, John Paul II together with the cardinals and bishops participating in the Synod of Bishops, repeat the Act of entrustment and consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which had already been pronounced in Fatima on 13 May 1982.
November 5
Letter for the 500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther .
November 24
Publication of the Charter of Rights of the Family (22 October 1993) [English, French, Italian, Spanish ].
December 11
Meeting with the Evangelic-Lutheran community in Rome.
December 27
Visit to the Rebibbia prison and meeting with Alì Agca , the Turk who made an attempt on the life of John Paul II on 13 May 1981.
1984
January 10
Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the United States of America .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
February 11
Apostolic Letter Salvifici doloris [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering.
February 18
Agreement between the Holy See and the Italian Republic on the revision of the Lateran Concordat: new Concordat signed.
February 22
Letter of the Holy Father for "The John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel", instituted for the fight against the drought and desertification in the Sahelian region.
March 25
Jubilee of Families . Before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in St. Peter’s Square, John Paul II in spiritual union with all the bishops of the world repeat the Act of entrustment of mankind and all peoples to Mary Most Holy.
March 25
Apostolic Exhortation Redemptionis donum [English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese ] to all men and women religious on their consecration in the light of the mystery of redemption, published 29 March 1984.
April 9
Additional appointments to the Roman Curia: broad renovation of responsibilities of dicasteries and commissions.
April 20
Apostolic Letter Redemptionis anno [Italian ] on the City of Jerusalem, sacred patrimony of all believers and desired crossroad of peace for the peoples of the Middle East.
April 22
Closing of the Holy Year of Redemption 1983-1984 .
May 1
Apostolic Letter Les grands Mystères [Italian ] on the problem of Lebanon.
May 2
Pastoral Visit in Korea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Thailand (2-12 May 1984).
Apostolic Voyage 21
[English, Italian ]
May 21
Official visit of the President of Italy, Sandro Pertini .
June 2
Official visit of John Paul II to the President of Italy, Sandro Pertini (Quirinale, Rome).
June 12
Pastoral Visit in Switzerland (12-17 June 1984).
Apostolic Voyage 22
[English, Italian ]
July 16
Visit to the massif of Adamello and meeting with the Italian President Sandro Pertini (16-17 July 1984).
September 3
Publication of the Instruction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on certain aspects of theology of liberation [English ].
September 9
Pastoral Visit in Canada (9-20 September 1984).
Apostolic Voyage 23
[English, Italian ]
October 10
Pastoral Visit in Zaragoza (Spain), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and San Juan (Puerto Rico) (10-13 October 1984).
Apostolic Voyage 24
[English, Italian ]
December 11
Publication of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio and Poenitentia [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on Reconciliation and Penance in the Mission of the Church Today (signed 02 December 1984).
1985
January 26
Pastoral Visit in Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago (26 January-6 February 1985).
Apostolic Voyage 25
[English, Italian ]
February 19
John Paul II receives in audience the Israeli Prime Minister, Simon Peres .
February 27
John Paul II receives in audience the Foreign Minister of the USSR, Andrei Gromyko .
March 26
Apostolic Letter Dilecti Amici [English, Italian ], to the Youth of the World on the occasion of the United Nation's International Youth Year.
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
March 30
International Youth Meeting in Rome (30-31 March 1985).
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
April 11
Pastoral visit to Loreto and meeting with Italian Bishops.
May 11
Pastoral Visit in The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium (11-21 May 1985).
Apostolic Voyage 26
[English, Italian ]
May 25
Third Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 28 new Cardinals.
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
June 2
Encyclical Epistle Slavorum apostoli [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish ] in commemoration of the 11th Centenary of the Evangelizing Works of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, published 2 July 1985.
July 7
Holy Mass in the Paoline Chapel of the Vatican for the Czechoslovakian community, in remembrance of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.
August 8
Pastoral Visit in Togo, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Republic of Central Africa, Zaire, Kenya and Morocco (8-19 August 1985).
Apostolic Voyage 27
[English, Italian ]
September 8
Pastoral Visit in Kloten (Switzerland) and Liechtenstein.
Apostolic Voyage 28
[English, Italian ]
October 4
Official visit of President of Italy, Francesco Cossiga .
November 17
Personal message of the Pope to Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbaciov for the Geneva summit.
November 21
Third Plenary Assembly of the College of Cardinals on: "The reform of the Roman Curia" (21-23 November 1985).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
November 25
Second Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on: "The Twentieth Anniversary of the Conclusion of the Second Vatican Council" (25 November-8 December 1985).
1986
January 18
Official visit of John Paul II to the Italian President, Francesco Cossiga .
January 31
Pastoral Visit in India (31 January-10 February 1986).
Apostolic Voyage 29
[English, Italian ]
February 19
John Paul II receives in audience President of Lebanon, Amin Gemayel.
March 6
Official visit of the Governor General of Canada, Jeanne Sauvé .
March 13
John Paul II and the Dicastery heads of the Roman Curia meet with Bishops of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference at the end of their "ad limina visit" (13-15 March 1986).
April 5
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith publishes the Instruction Libertatis conscientia [English ] on Christian freedom and liberation.
April 13
John Paul II makes a visit to Rome's main Synagogue .
May 18
Encyclical Letter Dominum et vivificantem [English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Holy Spirit in the Life of the Church and the World, published on 30 May.
July 1
Pastoral Visit in Colombia and St Lucia (1-8 July 1986).
Apostolic Voyage 30
[English, Italian ]
October 4
Pastoral Visit in France (East-Central region) (4-7 October 1986).
Apostolic Voyage 31
[English, Italian ]
October 27
John Paul II attends the First World Day of Prayer for Peace which he convoked in Assisi.
October 31
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya .
November 18
Pastoral Visit in Bangladesh, Singapore, Fiji Islands, New Zealand, Australia and Seychelles (18 November-1 December 1986).
Apostolic Voyage 32
[English, Italian ]
1987
January 13
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the Council of the People's Republic of Poland, Wojciech Jaruzelski .
February 22
Instruction Donum vitae [English, Italian ] of the Congregation for the Doctrine, published 2 March 1987 - on respect for human life in its origin and on the dignity of procreation .
March 25
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Mater [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life of the Pilgrim Church.
March 31
Pastoral Visit in Uruguay, Chile and Argentina , and celebration in Buenos Aires of the II World Youth Day (31 March-13 April 1987).
Apostolic Voyage 33
[English, Italian ]
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
April 30
Pastoral Visit in the Federal Republic of Germany (30 April-4 May 1987).
Apostolic Voyage 34
[English, Italian ]
June 6
Official visit of the President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan .
June 6
On the vigil of Pentecost: Solemn opening of the Marian Year (7 June-15 August 1987).
June 8
Pastoral Visit in Poland (8-14 June 1987).
Apostolic Voyage 35
[English, Italian ]
June 25
Official visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Austria, Kurt Waldheim .
June 28
Celebration of the 7th Centenary of the evangelization of Lithuania.
July 8
First visit of John Paul II to the Dolomites (Lorenzago di Cadore) in northern Italy for a period of rest (8-14 July 1987).
September 10
Pastoral Visit in USA and Fort Simpson (Canada) (10-21 September 1987).
Apostolic Voyage 36
[English, Italian ]
September 17
San Francisco, USA, the Holy Father meets with AIDS patients at "Mission Dolores Basilica" and embraces a little boy called Brendan.
October 1
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" (1-30 October 1987).
December 3
His Holiness Dimitrios , Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, visits John Paul II (3-7 December 1987). Signing of joint declaration.
December 11
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Argentina, Raul Ricardo Alfonsin .
December 30
Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo rei socialis [English, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] for the 20th Anniversary of Populorum Progressio, published 19 February 1988.
1988
January 25
Apostolic Letter Euntes in mundum [Italian ] for the millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus', published 22 March 1988.
February 14
Message to the Ukrainian Catholics, Magnum Baptismi donum for the millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'.
March 3
For the first time, the financial report of the Holy See (for the year 1986) is published.
May 7
Pastoral Visit in Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay and Lima (Perú) (7-19 May 1988).
Apostolic Voyage 37
[English, Italian ]
May 21
Inauguration of the Dono di Maria shelter in the Vatican, entrusted to Mother Teresa's Missionary Sisters of Charity.
June 13
Holy See delegation to Moscow led by Secretary of State Cardinal Casaroli for the celebrations of the Millennium of Kievan Rus'.
June 18
Official visit of the President of the Philippines, Corazon C. Aquino .
June 23
Pastoral Visit in Austria (23-27 June 1988).
Apostolic Voyage 38
[English, Italian ]
June 28
Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus [English, Italian, Latin, Spanish ] on the Roman Curia.
June 28
Fourth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 24 new Cardinals.
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
July 2
Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ], 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 10
Solemn liturgy in the Byzantine-Ukrainian Rite in St. Peter's Basilica for the Millennium of the Baptism of Kievan Rus'.
August 15
Solemn closing of the Marian Year in St. Peter's Basilica.
August 15
Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Dignity and Vocation of Women on the Occasion of the Marian Year, published 30 September 1988.
September 10
Pastoral Visit in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland (10-20 September 1988).
Apostolic Voyage 39
[English, Italian ]
October 8
Pastoral Visit to the European Institutions of Strasbourg and to the Dioceses of Strasbourg, Metz and Nancy (8-11 October 1988).
Apostolic Voyage 40
[English, Italian ]
November 19
Official Visit of the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Ciriaco De Mita .
December 30
Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles laici [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on theVocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World, published 30 January 1989.
1989
January 1
Motu Proprio instituting the Labour Office of the Holy See , published 25 January 1989. (On 30 September 1994 will be signed the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio for the promulgation of the definitive Statute establishing the Labour Office of the Holy See [Italian ]).
March 8
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" (8-11 March 1989).
March 10
Reorganization of the pastoral government of the dioceses in Lithuania .
April 20
Official visit of the President of Ireland, Patrick J. Hillery .
April 28
Pastoral Visit in Madagascar, La Réunion, Zambia and Malawi (28 April-6 May 1989).
Apostolic Voyage 41
[English, Italian ]
May 27
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the United States of America, George Bush .
June 1
Pastoral Visit in Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Sweden (1-10 June 1989).
Apostolic Voyage 42
[English, Italian ]
July 17
Restoration of diplomatic relations between Poland and the Holy See.
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
August 15
Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos [English, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese ] on the Person and Mission of St. Joseph in the Life of Christians and of the Church.
August 15
Angelus message in which the Pope reveals his wish to go personally to Lebanon as soon as possible.
August 19
Pastoral Visit in Santiago de Compostela for the 4th World Youth Day and in Asturias (19-21 August 1989).
Apostolic Voyage 43
[English, Italian ]
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
August 27
Apostolic Letter on the Occasion of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War [Italian ].
September 7
Appeal to the followers of Islam in favor of Lebanon.
September 7
Apostolic Letter to all Bishops of the Catholic Church on the situation in Lebanon [Italian ]. World Day of Prayer for Peace in Lebanon.
September 29
Official visit of Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion, Dr. Robert Runcie (29 September-2 October 1989).
October 2
Joint statement of John Paul II and Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie .
October 6
Pastoral Visit in Seoul (Korea), Indonesia and Mauritius (6-10 October).
Apostolic Voyage 44
[English, Italian ]
November 13
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" (13-14 November 1989).
December 1
Official visit of the President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbaciov .
December 18
Official visit of the President of Malta, Censu Tabone .
December 21
New appointment of bishops in Czechoslovakia.
1990
January 25
Pastoral Visit in Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad (25 January-1 February 1990).
Apostolic Voyage 45
[English, Italian ]
March 15
Exchange of official representatives at the level of the apostolic nuncio and special ambassador between the Holy See and the Soviet government .
April 21
Pastoral Visit in Czechoslovakia (21-22 April 1990).
Apostolic Voyage 46
[English, Italian ]
April 22
In Velehrad, John Paul II announces a Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops.
April 27
Official visit of the President of Portugal, Mario Soares .
May 6
Pastoral Visit in Mexico and Curaçao (6-14 May 1990).
Apostolic Voyage 47
[English, Italian ]
May 25
Pastoral Visit in Malta (25-27 May).
Apostolic Voyage 48
[English, Italian ]
August 26
During his Angelus message John Paul II makes an appeal for peace in the Persian Gulf, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
September 1
Pastoral Visit in Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Yamoussoukro (1-10 September).
Apostolic Voyage 49
[English, Italian ]
September 30
Eighth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme: "The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day" (30 September-28 October 1990).
October 18
Promulgation of the Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches .
November 24
Ad limina visit of Vietnamese bishops: for the first time all bishops are present.
December 1
John Paul II accepts the resignation of the Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli and appoints Archbishop Angelo Sodano Pro-Secretary of State.
December 7
Encyclical Letter Redemptoris missio [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Permanent Validity of the Church’s Missionary Mandate, published 22 January 1991.
December 25
Papal appeal for peace in the Gulf with the Christmas message Urbi et Orbi .
1991
January 15
Letters to the President of the United States, George Bush and to the President of Iraq, Sadam Hussein in an attempt to avert the Gulf War.
February 5
Official visit of President of the Polish Republic, Lech Wałesa .
March 4
Representatives of the episcopates from the countries directly implicated in the Gulf War meet in the Vatican (4-5 March 1991).
March 8
Second session of the Brazilian Episcopate and representatives of the Roman Curia (8-9 March 1991).
April 4
Fourth Plenary Assembly of the College of Cardinals on the theme: "The Church facing the threat against human life and the challenge of the sects" (4-7 April 1991).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
April 8
Meeting of the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences concerning the economic problems of the Holy See and the financial contribution of the bishops, according to the Code of Canon Law, Canon 1271 (8-9 April 1991).
April 13
Reorganization of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church in the Soviet Republic of Belarus, Russia and Kazakistan.
April 22
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Chile, Patricio Aylwuin Azocar .
April 29
Meeting of Swiss Bishops with the Holy Father and the Roman Curia (29-30 April 1991).
May 1
Enyclical Letter Centesimus annus [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Hundreth Year of Rerum Novarum .
May 3
Official visit of the King Karl Gustaf XVI of Sweden and Queen Silvia .
May 10
Pastoral Visit in Portugal (10-13 May 1991).
Apostolic Voyage 50
[English, Italian ]
June 1
Pastoral Visit in Poland (1-9 June 1991).
Apostolic Voyage 51
[English, Italian ]
June 28
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 .
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
August 13
Pastoral Visit in Poland, at Częstochowa for the 6th World Youth Day and in Hungary (13-20 August 1991).
Apostolic Voyage 52
[English, Italian ]
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
September 7
Holy See and Albania establish diplomatic relations.
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
October 5
Ecumenical prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica, for 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.
October 12
Pastoral Visit in Brazil (12-21 October 1991).
Apostolic Voyage 53
[English, Italian ]
November 28
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" (28 November-14 December 1991).
December 7
Ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica for the occasion of the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops.
1992
January 1
Holy See recognizes the Russian Federation .
January 13
Holy See recognizes Croatia and Slovenia .
February 8
Holy See establishes diplomatic relations with Croatia, Slovenia and Ukraine .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
February 13
Papal chirograph for the Indipendent Foundation Popolorum Progressio at the service of the indiginous peoples and the campesinos in Latin America, established on the occasion of the 5th centenary of the evangelization of Latin America.
February 19
Pastoral Visit in Senegal, Gambia and Guinea (19-26 February 1992).
Apostolic Voyage 54
[English, Italian ]
April 7
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis [English, French, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day (signed 25 March 1992).
May 17
Beatification of José Maria Escrivá de Balaguer , the founder of Opus Dei, and of Giuseppina Bakhita of Sudan.
June 4
Pastoral Visit in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (4-10 June 1992).
Apostolic Voyage 55
[English, Italian ]
July 12
At the Angelus John Paul II announces to the faithful that he will go to Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital that evening for diagnostic tests. On July 15, the Holy Father undergoes surgery to remove a benign intestinal tumor. John Paul II is released from Gemelli Polyclinic on 26 July.
August 22
Dramatic appeal for peace in the Balkans at the Angelus message.
September 21
Diplomatic relations between Holy See and Mexico .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
October 9
Pastoral Visit in Santo Domingo for the 5th centenary of the evangelization of Latin America and for the Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate (9-14 October 1992).
Apostolic Voyage 56
[English, Italian ]
October 11
Apostolic Constitution Fidei depositum [English, French, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church [Inglese, Italiano ] edited after the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council.
October 31
John Paul II receives in audience the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences. The Academy presents to the Holy Father the conclusions reached by the "Commission for the Study of the ptolemaic-copernican Controversy, which was instituted by John Paul II on 3 June 1981 to "provide to the world of science and culture the long-awaited response in merit to the case of Galileo Galilei ".
November 27
Official visit of the President of Italy, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro .
December 25
Bishops of Albania appointed.
1993
January 9
At Assisi , special prayer meeting for peace in Europe, particularly in the Balkans (9-10 January 1993).
January 21
Official visit of Giuliano Amato , President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy.
February 3
Pastoral Visit in Benin, Uganda and Khartoum (3-10 February 1993).
Apostolic Voyage 57
[English, Italian ]
February 19
Official visit of the President of Slovenia, Milan Kucan .
April 25
Pastoral Visit in Albania .
Apostolic Voyage 58
[English, Italian ]
May 29
Closing of the second diocesan synod of Rome.
June 7
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Slovakia, Michal Kovac .
June 12
Pastoral Visit in Spain (12-17 June 1993).
Apostolic Voyage 59
[English, Italian ]
August 6
Encyclical Letter Veritatis splendor [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - regarding certain fundamental questions on the Church’s moral teaching, published 5 October 1993.
August 9
Pastoral Visit in Jamaica, Merida and Denver for the 8th World Youth Day (9-16 August 1993).
Apostolic Voyage 60
[English, Italian ]
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
September 4
Pastoral Visit in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (4-10 September 1993).
Apostolic Voyage 61
[English, Italian ]
November 11
The Holy Father 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.
December 16
Official visit of the President of Argentina, Carlos Saul Menem .
December 26
Opening of the Year of the Family.
December 30
At Jerusalem, signing of an agreement on some basic principles regulating relations between the Holy See and the State of Israel .
1994
January 1
Motu Proprio Socialium scientiarum [Italian ] instituting the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
January 6
Letter to the Italian Bishops on the responsibilities of Catholics facing the challenge of the present historic situation [Italian ].
January 23
Mass presided by John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica for peace in the Balkans.
February 2
Letter to Families [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ], for the International Year of the Family.
February 11
Motu Proprio Vitae mysterium instituting the Pontifical Academy for Life.
March 3
Official visit of President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Richard von Weizsäcker .
March 3
Diplomatic relations with Jordan .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
March 5
Diplomatic relations with South Africa .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
March 7
Official visit of President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel .
March 17
John Paul II receives in audience Prime Minister of Israel , Yitzhak Rabin .
March 19
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 [English, Italian, Spanish ]. ?
April 7
Concert held in the Vatican for the commemoration of the Shoah, in the presence of John Paul II and Chief Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff .
April 8
John Paul II celebrates Mass in the Sistine Chapel for the unveiling of the restored frescoes of Michelangelo.
April 10
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' " (10 April-8 May 1994).
April 29
Following an accidental fall on the evening of 28 April 1994, which caused a fracture of the right femur, the Holy Father is recovered at the Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital and undergoes an operation. Released from hospital on 27 May 1994.
May 13
Opening of the cloistered monastery "Mater Ecclesiae" within the Vatican walls.
May 22
Apostolic Letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] - to the Bishops on Reserving Priestly Ordination to Men Alone.
June 2
John Paul II receives in audience the President of the United States of America, Bill Clinton.
June 13
Fifth Plenary Assembly of the College of Cardinals, with John Paul II participating, in preparation for the Jubilee of the Third Millennium (13-14 June 1994).
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
June 15
Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the State of Israel .
Bilateral and multilateral relations of the Holy See
[English, Italian ]
September 5
Holy See sends its delegation to the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo (5-13 September 1994). ?
September 8
John Paul II offers Mass at Castelgandolfo for Bosnia-Herzegovina, after cancelling his planned visit to Sarajevo.
September 10
Pastoral Visit in Croatia (10-11 September 1994).
Apostolic Voyage 62
[English, Italian ]
October 2
Ninth General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops: "The Consecrated Life and Its Role in the Church and in the World" (2-29 October 1994).
October 8
World Meeting of Families with the Holy Father honoring the International Year of the Family (8-9 October 1994).
October 20
Publication of the book Crossing the Threshold of Hope .
October 25
The start of "working contacts of a permanent and official character" between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organization .
November 10
Apostolic Letter Tertio millennio adveniente [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] - to Bishops, Clergy and Lay Faithful in the preparation for the Jubilee of theYear 2000, published 14 November 1994.
November 25
Official visit of the President of Austria, Thomas Klestil .
November 26
Sixth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 30 new cardinals.
Consistories
[English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ]
December 2
Official visit of the President of Lithuania, Algirdas Brazauskas .
December 13
Letter to Children [English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] in the Year of the Family.
1995
January 11
Pastoral Visit to Manila for the 10th World Youth Day, to Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Sydney (Australia) and Colombo (Sri Lanka) (11-21 January 1995).
Apostolic Voyage 63
[English, Italian ]
World Youth Day
[English, Italian ]
January 14
Broadcasted over Radio Veritas at Manila, John Paul II reads a message to Chinese Catholics.
February 4
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Malta, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici .
March 6
The Holy See sends its delegation to the UN World Summit of Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark (6-12 March 1995).
March 25
Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, published 30 March 1995. Commentary onEvangelium vitae [Italian, Spanish ]. Evangelium vitae and law [Italian ].
May 2
Apostolic Letter Orientale lumen [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish ] - for the centenary of Orientalium dignitas of Pope Leo XIII.
May 8
Message on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
May 20
Pastoral Visit in the Czech Republic (20-22 May 1995).
Apostolic Voyage 64
[English, Italian ]
May 25
Encyclical Letter Ut unum sint [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish ] - on Commitment to Ecumenism, published 30 May 1995.
June 3
Pastoral Visit in Belgium (3-4 June 1995).
Apostolic Voyage 65
[English, Italian ]
June 11
Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe.
June 27
Visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constan | | |
Medal History
