OVERVIEW OF THE PONTIFICATE OF VATICAN CITY, OCT 15, 1998 (VIS)
1989
March 8 March 10 April 20 April 28 May 27 June 1 July 17 August 15 August 19 August 27 September 7 September 7 September 29 October 2 October 6 November 13 December 1 December 21
1990
January 25 March 15 April 21 April 22 April 27 May 6 May 25 August 26 September 1 September 30 October 18 November 24 December 1 December 21 December 25
1991
January 15 January 17 February 5 February 28 March 4 April 4 April 8 April 13 April 22 April 29 May 1 May 3 May 10 June 1 June 12 June 28 August 13 September 7 October 5 October 12 November 28 Decemver 12
1992
January 1 January 12 January 27 February 8 February 19 March 7 March 11 March 19 March 25 April 4 April 7 April 9 April 30 May 13 May 17 May 23 May 25 June 1 June 4 June 19 June 30 July 12 July 15 July 29 August 22 September 21 October 9 October 17 November 6 November 11 November 16 November 27 December 7 December 25
1993
Jan. 1 Jan. 9 Jan. 21 Jan. 25 Feb. 3 Feb. 11 Feb. 19 Feb. 23 March 19 April 25 May 4 May 8 May 23 May 29 June 1 June 4, June 8 June 9 June 12 June 19 August 6 August 9 September 3 September 4br>
61st pastoral visit outside Italy: to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia (September 4-10). First ever visit by a Pope to these countries.
September 23 September 25 October 16 November 5 November 11 December 13 December 16 December 26 December 30
1994
January 1 January 6 Jan. 11 "Directives Concerning the Preparation of Seminary Educators" is released by Congregation for
Catholic Education.
January 26 Feb. 2 Feb. 11 Feb. 16 March 3 March 3 March 5 March 7 March 17 March 19 United Nations regarding the International Conference on Population and Development at Cairo, to be held in September 1994.
March 25 April 7 April 8 April 10 April 28 May 8 May 10 May 22 Apostolic Letter to the bishops: "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis" (On Reserving Priestly Ordination to
Men Alone).
June 2 Pope receives President Bill Clinton of the United States.
June 10 Diplomatic relations with Western Samoa.
June 13 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).
June 15 Diplomatic relations at the level of apostolic nunciature and embassy between the Holy See
and the State of Israel.
July 20 Sept. 5 Holy See delegation attends the International Conference on Population and Development, in Cairo from September 5-13.
Sept. 10 62nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Zagreb, Croatia
(September 10- 11).
Sept. 17 Start of two day trip to Lecce, Italy.
Sept. 29 Pope receives first Israeli ambassador to Holy See.
Oct. 2 Ninth general assembly of the Synod of Bishops: "The Consecratedm Life and Its Role in the
church and in the World" (October 2-29).
Oct. 8 International Meeting of Families with the Holy Father honoring the International Year of the
Family.
Oct. 20 Publication of Pope John Paul's book "Crossing the Threshold of Hope": 21 languages, 35
countries.
Oct. 25 Beginning of working contacts of "permanent and official character" between the Holy See and the Palestine Liberation Organization, with a PLO office of representation to the Holy See and the nuncio of Tunisia responsible for contacts with the PLO.
Nov. 4 John Paul II visits Catania and Siracusa, Sicily. Ends Nov. 6: 117th trip within Italy.
Nov. 10 Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" to Bishops, Clergy and Lay Faithful on the Preparation for the Jubilee of the Year 2000.
Nov. 19 First ambassador from Jordan received.
Nov. 26 Sixth Consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 30 new cardinals, from 24 countries.
Dec. 9 "Women, Teachers of Peace" - Message for 1995 World Day of Peace - is made public.
Dec. 15 Letter to Children in the Year of the Family.
Dec. 18 Pope John Paul named Man of the Year by TIME Magazine.
Dec. 21 Diplomatic ties established with Macedonia.
1995
Jan. 11 63rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Manila, the Philippines, for the celebration of 10th World Youth Day; to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea; Sydney, Australia; and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
January 11-21.
Feb. 4 Audience for Malta's President Mifsud Bonnici.
Feb. 17 Visit by Paraguayan President Carlos Wasmosy.
Mar. 16 Audience for Iraqi Vice Prime Minister Tariq Aziz.
Mar. 17 Audience for Foreign Affairs Minister Vladislav Jovanovic of Yugoslavia.
Mar. 19 Trip to Molise region: 119th within Italy.
Mar. 24 President Sixto Duran-Ballen of Ecuador on visit.
Mar. 25 11th Encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life"). Made
public on March 30.
Mar. 28 Audience for Romanian President Ion Illiescu.
Apr. 29 Two-day pastoral visit to Trent, Italy: 450th anniversary of start of Council of Trent and
beatification of John Nepomucene. 120th trip within Italy.
May 2 Apostolic Letter "Orientale Lumen" for the centenary of "Orientalium Dignitas" of Pope Leo XIII.
May 8 Message on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the End of the Second World War in Europe.
May 19 Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al Shara'a on visit.
May 20 Three-day pastoral visit to Czech Republic: 64th outside of Italy.
May 25 "Ut Unum Sint" ("That All May be One"), 12th papal encyclical. Published May 30.
May 26 Message to Gertrude Mongella, secretary general of U.N.'s Fourth World Conference on
Women, scheduled for September in Beijing, China. Visit by President Kiro Gligorov of ex-Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
June 3 Two-day trip to Belgium is 65th pastoral visit outside Italy: beatification of Fr. Damien de Veuster.
June 11 Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for anniversary of end of World War II.
June 27 Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I welcomed to Vatican.
June 29 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Patriarch Bartholomew and the Holy Father give homilies in St. Peter's Basilica, and sign Common Declaration. Letter to Women (made public on July 10).
June 30 66th pastoral visit outside Italy: Slovak Republic.
July 12 121st trip within Italy: Les Combes for vacation.
July 17 Theme announced for Jubilee Year 2000: "Jesus Christ - Yesterday, Today, Always."
Aug 29 Audience for Mary Ann Glendon, head of delegation, and other members of Holy See
delegation to UN Conference on Women, Beijing, September 4-15.
Sep. 2 Audience for Yasser Arafat.
Sep. 9 Two-day visit to Loreto on the occasion of the pilgrimage of European youth. 122nd Italian trip.
Sep. 14 67th foreign pastoral visit: to Africa for conclusion of Synod for Africa, Sep. 14-20. In
Yaounde, Cameroon, the signing of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesia in Africa," the
first time a document is signed outside the Vatican.
Oct. 4 68th pastoral visit outside Italy: to the USA (New York, Newark, Brooklyn, Baltimore). On
Rome-NY flight, Pope crosses the 1 million kilometer mark.
Oct. 5 Address to United Nations General Assembly, commemorating 50th anniversary of founding of U.N.
Nov. 16 Apostolic Letter for the Fourth Centenary of the Union of Brest.
Nov. 17 Audience for President Carlos Alberto Reina of Honduras.
Nov. 23 One-day visit to Palermo, Sicily. 123rd trip within Italy.
Nov. 26 Opening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops.
Dec. 8 Entrusts Rome with Citizens' Mission for the Jubilee Year.
Dec. 15 Receives Leah Rabin, widow of Yitzhak Rabin.
1996
Jan. 20: State visit of French President Jacques Chirac.
Feb. 1: First official visit by a Mexican head of state: President Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon.
Feb. 5: Departure for Latin America, 69th foreign visit: Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Venezuela.
Until February 12.
Feb. 22: Apostolic Constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis," On the Vacancy of the Apostolic See and
the Election of the Roman Pontiff.
Mar. 28: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Vita Consecrata."
Mar. 30: Trip to Siena: 124th within Italy.
Apr. 14: One-day visit to Tunis: 70th foreign trip.
Apr. 19: Crown Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan received in audience.
May 4: Two-day trip to Como: 125th in Italy.
May 17: 71st trip abroad: to Slovenia, through May 19.
May 25: Audience for President Julio Maria Sanguinetti of Uruguay.
June 21: Departure for Germany, 72nd foreign trip. Until June 23.
July 4: Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi received in audience.
July 6: "Moleben" in St. Peter's Basilica for 4th centenary of Union of Brest.
July 7: Presides at liturgy in St. Peter's in Byzantine-Ukrainian rite for celebrations of 4th centenary of Union of Brest.
July 10: Departure for Dolomite mountain vacation in Lorenzago di Cadore. Until July 23. 126th trip
within Italy.
Sep. 6: Start of second papal trip to Hungary, and 73rd foreign apostolic visit. September 6-7.
Sep. 19: Departure for France on 74th foreign trip. To September 22.
Oct. 8: Undergoes appendectomy at Gemelli Polyclinic. Returns to Vatican on October 15.
Nov. 1: John Paul II marks 50 years of priestly ordination.
Nov. 7: Four days of jubilee celebrations commence.
Nov. 13: Address to World Food Summit at FAO headquarters, Rome.
Nov. 15: Presentation of book: "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination."
Nov. 18: Audience for Mikhail Gorbachev.
Nov. 19: Audience with President Fidel Castro of Cuba. Pope accepts invitation to visit in January,
1998
Dec. 3: Message to the Church Which is in China.
Dec. 4: Visit by His Grace George Leonard Carey, archbishop of Canterbury and primate of the Anglican Communion.
Dec. 5: Publication of Apostolic Epistle "Operosam Diem," to the faithful of the Milan archdiocese on
the 16th centenary of the death of St. Ambrose.
Dec. 6: Common Declaration signed by Pope, Anglican primate.
Dec. 10: Visit of His Holiness Karekin I Sarkassian, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians.
Dec. 13: Pope, Catholicos sign Common Declaration.
1997
Jan. 14 Pope receives Lien Chan, vice president and prime minister of the Republic of China.
Jan. 25 Meeting in Vatican with His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia of the Armenians. Signing of
Common Declaration.
Feb. 3 Visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Feb. 14 President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, first official visit to the Vatican by a Brazilian head of
State.
Mar. 10 Ireland's President Mary Robinson received by Holy Father.
Mar. 10 Holy See, Libya establish diplomatic ties.
Mar. 12 Letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on situation in Zaire.
Mar. 20 Visit by Jose Maria Aznar, president of Spanish government.
Apr. 12 Two-day trip to Sarajevo: 75th foreign pastoral visit.
Apr. 15 John Paul II welcomes U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Apr. 25 Start of three-day pastoral visit to Czech Republic: 76th foreign trip.
May 10 Departure for two-day trip to Lebanon: 77th foreign pastoral trip.
May 16 Audience with Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze.
May 18 Pope John Paul celebrates 77th birthday.
May 31 Departure for Poland; until June 10. Is Pope's 78th foreign pastoral visit.
June 9 Diplomatic Relations with Cooperative Republic of Guyana.
June 16 President Alberto Fujimori of Peru welcomed to Vatican. Pope writes letters to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority, in which he expressed concern for interrupted dialogue in Middle East peace process.
June 24 Letter to Cardinal John Baptist Wu Cheng-chung, bishop of Hong Kong, on the occasion of
the scheduled July 1 return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty.
July 8 Holy See, Angola establish diplomatic relations.
July 17 Holy See approved as Observer to World Trade Organization.
July 18 Letter to Russian President Boris Yeltsin in which Pope expresses concern about a bill submitted to the Russian parliament "concerning freedom of conscience and religious associations."
July 22 Holy See signs United Nations conventional weapons ban.
Aug. 21 Departure for Paris for 12th World Youth Day. This four-day trip is Holy Father's 79th
foreign visit.
Sep. 6 Telegram for the death yesterday in Calcutta, India, of Mother Teresa.
POPE JOHN PAUL II:
THE YEARS OF 1989-98
- Concluding our overview of the 20-year pontificate of Pope John Paul II,
We present a synthesis of the important events of the years 1989-98:
Meeting of John Paul II and members of the Roman 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" (March 8-11).
Reorganization of the pastoral government of the dioceses in Lithuania.
Official visit of President Patrick J. Hillery of Ireland.
41st pastoral visit outside Italy: Madagascar, La Reunion, Zambia and Malawi (April 28-May 6).
Official visit of U.S. President George Bush.
42nd pastoral trip outside Italy: Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden (June 1-10).
Restoration of diplomatic relations between Poland and the Holy See.
Angelus message in which the Pope reveals his wish to personally go to Lebanon as soon as possible.
43rd papal trip abroad: to Santiago de Compostela for Fourth World Youth Day, and to the Asturias (August 19-21).
Apostolic Letter on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War.
Appeal to the followers of Islam in favor of Lebanon.
Apostolic Letter to all Bishops of the Catholic Church on the situation in Lebanon. World Day of Prayer for Peace in Lebanon.
Official visit of Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.
Joint statement of John Paul II and Archbishop Runcie.
44th foreign pastoral visit: Seoul (Korea), Indonesia and Mauritius (October 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."
Official visit of President Mikhail Gorbaciov of the USSR: marks the first time a Pope has met with the head of the Soviet government.
New appointment of bishops in Czechoslovakia.
45th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad (January 25-February 1).
Exchange of official representatives at the level of apostolic nuncio and special ambassador between the Holy See and the Soviet government.
46th pastoral visit outside Italy: Czechoslovakia.
John Paul II announces in Velehrad a Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops.
Official visit of President Mario Soares of Portugal.
47th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Mexico and Curacao (May 6-14).
48th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Malta.
During his angelus message John Paul II appeals for peace in the Persian Gulf, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq.
49th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Ivory Coast (September 1-10).
Eighth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme:
"The Formation of Priests in Circumstances of the Present Day" (September 30- October 28).
Promulgation of Code of Canons for Eastern Churches.
"Ad limina" visit of Vietnamese bishops: for the first time all bishops are present.
John Paul II accepts the resignation of Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli and appoints Archbishop Angelo Sodano pro-secretary of State.
Vatican Information Service transmits first bulletin in English and Spanish: destined for bishops and nuncios.
From "Urbi et Orbi" message: "War is an adventure with no return." Papal appeal for peace in Persian Gulf.
Letter of John Paul II to U.S. President George Bush and to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq, in an attempt to deter a Gulf War.
Start of Gulf War.
Official visit of President Lech Walesa of the Polish Republic.
End of Gulf War.
Meeting at the Vatican of episcopal representatives from the countries directly implicated in the Gulf War.
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."
Meeting of the presidents of Episcopal Conferences (April 8-9), concerning the economic
problems of the Holy See and the financial contribution of the bishops (Canon 1271, CIC).
Reorganization of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church in the Soviet Republics of Belarus, Russia and Kazakistan.
Official visit of the President of the Republic of Chile, Patricio Aylwuin Azocar.
Meeting of Swiss bishops with the Holy Father and the Roman Curia.
Papal encyclical "Centesimus Annus" (The Hundreth Year), commemorating 100 years of papal
social teaching, beginning with Leo XIII's "Rerum Novarum" of 1891.
Official visit of King Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden, and Queen Silvia.
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.
Fifth consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 22 new cardinals: named revealed of 1979 "in pectore," Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei.
52nd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Czestochowa (Poland) for the 6th World Youth Day and to Hungary (August 13-20).
Holy See and Albania establish diplomatic ties.
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.
53rd pastoral visit outside Italy: to Brazil (October 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," (November 28- December 14).
Ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops.
Holy See recognizes Russian Federation.
Holy See recognizes sovereignty of Croatia and Slovenia.
Pope creates Assemblee des Ordinaires Catholiques de Terre Sainte.
Diplomatic relations with Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine.
54th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Senegal, Gambia and Guinea (February 19-26).
Promulgation of new General Regulations of the Roman Curia.
Diplomatic relations with Kingdom of Swaziland.
Trip to Sorrento, Castellamare di Stabia, Italy.
Restructuring of Church in Poland.
Diplomatic relations with Mongolia.
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Pastores Dabo Vobis" (Shepherds I give you).
"Populorum Progressio" Foundation made public.
102nd trip within Italy: Friuli region (to May 3).
Pope John Paul institutes World Day for the Ill, to be celebrated annually on February 11.
Beatification of Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei, and of Giuseppina Bakhita of Sudan.
103rd trip within Italy - Campania. Diplomatic relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova.
Visit to Pope by Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury George Leonard Carey.
First "ad limina" of Bulgarian Episcopal Conference. Diplomatic relations with Republic of Nauru.
55th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Angola and Sao Tome and Principe (June 4-10).
104th trip in Italy: Lombardy (to June 21).
5,000th day of Pope John Paul's pontificate, which began October 22, 1978.
At the angelus John Paul II announces that he will go to Gemelli Hospital that evening for diagnostic tests.
Holy Father undergoes colic resection surgery. His gallbladder is removed due to gallstones. John Paul II is released from Gemelli Polyclinic on July 26.
Holy See-Israel working commission formed.
Dramatic appeal for peace in the Balkans at angelus.
Diplomatic relations between Holy See and Mexico.
56th pastoral visit outside Italy: Santo Domingo, for the 5th centenary of evangelization of Latin America and Fourth General Conference of the Latin American Episcopate (October 9-14).
Diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan.
First "ad limina" by Slovenia's bishops.
Diplomatic relations with Belarus.
Apostolic Constitution "Fidei Depositum," for new catechism, is made public; Catechism of the Catholic Church presented in Paris.
Official visit of President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of the Italian Republic.
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 episcopal conferences.
Bishops of Albania appointed.
Holy See recognizes Czech Republic and Slovak Republic.
At Assisi, special prayer meeting for peace in Europe and particularly in the Balkans (January 9-10).
Official visit of Giuliano Amato, president of the council of ministers of the Republic of Italy.
Pope announces new Ecumenical Directory.
57th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Benin, Uganda and Khartoum (February 3-10). John Paul II announces that the synod for Africa will be held in the Vatican in 1994.
1st World Day of the Sick.
Official visit of President Milan Kacan of Slovenia.
Motu Proprio "Europae Orientalis" with which Permanent Interdicastery Commission for the
Church in Eastern Europe substitutes Pontifical Commission for Russia.
Trip to Sabina-Poggio-Mirteto, Italy.
58th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Albania. John Paul II ordains 4 bishops, restoring the hierarchy in a country that once declared itself officially atheist.
Pontifical Councils for Culture and for Dialogue with non-believers are joined: name is Pontifical Council for Culture.
Start of three-day trip to Sicily, Italy.
Pastoral trip to Arezzo.
Conclusion of the second Rome diocesan synod.
Church re-structured in Hungary.
"Centesimus Annus Pro Pontefice" Foundation announced.
First ambassador from Romania presents credentials.
Orthodox patriarch of Ethiopia received by Pope.
59th pastoral visit outside Italy: to Spain (June 12-17).
Trip to Macerata, Foligno, Gran Sasso, Italy. Ends June 20.
Papal encyclical "Veritatis Splendor"; published October 5, 1993.
60th foreign pastoral visit: Jamaica, Merida and Denver, for 8th World Youth Day (August 9-16).
Holy Father receives Emperor Akihito of Japan.
John Paul II receives Mikhail Gorbachev.
Trip to Asti, Italy. Ends Sept. 26.
15th anniversary of Holy Father's election.
Lebanon's President Elias Hrawi on visit; invites Pope to his country.
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.
South Africa's President De Klerk visits Pope.
Official visit of President Carlos Saul Menem of Argentina.
Opening of the International Year of the Family of the Catholic Church.
Signing of the accord on basic principles regulating diplomatic relations between the Holy See
and Israel.
Motu Proprio "Socialium scientiarum" establishing Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.
Letter to the Italian bishops on the responsibilities of Catholics facing the challenge of the present historic situation.
Diplomatic relations with Federated States of Micronesia.
Letter of John Paul II to Families, on the occasion of the International Year of the Family.
Motu Proprio "Vitae Mysterium" establishes Pontifical Academy for Life.
Diplomatic relations with Republic of Suriname.
Official visit of President Richard von Weizsacker of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Diplomatic relations with Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
Diplomatic relations with Republic of South Africa.
Official visit of President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic.
Israeli Prime Minister Rabin visits Pope.
Letter of John Paul II to heads of states around the world and to the secretary general of the
Diplomatic relations established with Cambodia.
Vatican concert for the commemoration of the Shoah, in the presence of John Paul II and Chief
Rabbi of Rome, Elio Toaff.
John Paul II celebrates mass in the Sistine Chapel for the unveiling of the restored frescoes of
Michelangelo.
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'" (April 10-May 8).
Holy Father falls, breaks femur. Goes to Gemelli Hospital the morning of April 29.
Concluding mass for synod of Africa.
Holy Father institutes cloistered monastery within Vatican.
Diplomatic relations with Vanuatu.
July 24 Diplomatic relations with Kingdom of Tonga.
Sept. 8 John Paul offers mass at Castelgandolfo for Bosnia-Herzegovina, after cancelling his planned
visit to Sarajevo.
Jan. 14 Message to Chinese Catholics, broadcast over Radio Veritas in Manila.
Sep. 8 Apostolic Constitution "Laetamur magnopere," with which the Holy Father approved and
promulgated the official Latin version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Sep. 27 Pope travels to Bologna, Italy, to participate in 23rd National Eucharistic Congress. Until Sept. 28.
Oct. 2 Departure for four-day visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for Second World Meeting with Families. 80th foreign trip.
Oct. 11 Meeting with President Carlos Saul Menem of Argentina.
Oct. 16 19th anniversary of John Paul II's election to the papacy.
Oct. 19 Pope proclaims St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as Therese of the Child Jesus, Doctor of
the Church. She is the 33rd person, the third woman (with St. Catherine of Siena and St. Teresa of
Avila), and the youngest Doctor.
Oct. 22 Anniversary of start of Pope John Paul's pontificate as he enters his 20th year.
Nov. 16 Pope inaugurates Synod for America, presides at Eucharistic concelebration in St. Peter's
Basilica.
Nov. 26 Audience with Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek.
Dec. 4 Holy See signs Convention banning land mines, offers $100,000 to victims.
Dec. 20 Papal letter to Cuban people on the occasion of Christmas and his forthcoming trip to their country.
1998
Jan. 15 Communique announces Holy See-Palestinian Mixed Commission.
Jan. 16 Holy See and Patriarchate of Moscow issue joint communique after annual meeting.
Jan. 17 Holy See remits excommunication of Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, O.M.I.
Jan. 18 Pope names 20 new cardinals, announces another two "in pectore."
Jan. 21 John Paul II leaves for Cuba, on his 81st pastoral visit outside of Italy. Until January 26.
Jan. 22 Fidel Castro and Pope meet in Havana.
Feb. 1 Holy Father visits Roman family in their home.
Feb. 2 Pope John Paul presents new Apostolic Constitution "Ecclesia in Urbe" to Cardinal Ruini, vicar of Rome. Also, the celebration of the Second Day for Consecrated Life.
Feb. 7 Pope presides at funeral mass for Cardinal Eduardo Pironio, president emeritus of the Pontifical
Council for the Laity. First ambassador of Angola presents credentials.
Feb. 10 John Paul II receives President Boris Yeltsin of Russia.
Feb. 15 Holy See nuncio to U.N., Archbishop Renato Martino, conveys papal message to Secretary
General Kofi Annan, encouraging him to undertake trip to Iraq to attempt to solve crisis which developed there in recent weeks.
Feb. 16 First ambassador from Libya received.
Feb. 17 Holy See ratifies land mine convention.
Feb. 21 Consistory to create 20 new cardinals; is the seventh of John Paul II's pontificate.
March 7
Audience granted to U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
March 10
The Congregations for Catholic Education and for the Clergy present a book containing the
documents: "Basic Norms for the Formation of Permanent Deacons," and "The Directory for the
Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons."
March 14
Pope signs Letter returning liturgical faculties to Syro-Malabar Church.
March 16
Presentation of Holy See document, "We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah."
March 21
Holy Father leaves for Nigeria, 82nd foreign pastoral trip.
March 26
Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran leaves on visit to Jordan and Yemen.
March 27
Pope receives Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina Gonzales.
April 2
Audiences for Fares Bouez and Amre Moussa, respectively foreign ministers of Lebanon and Egypt.
April 16
Presentation of the volume "Serving the Human Family: The Holy See at the Major United
Nations Conferences," produced by the Holy See Permanent Observer Mission to the U.N. in New York.
April 19
Opening of Synod for Asia.
May 6
Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano presides at funeral Mass for Swiss Guard
Commander Alois Estermann and his wife, killed on May 4.
May 14
Concluding Mass for Asian Synod in St. Peter's Basilica.
May 15
Pope receives King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians.
May 18 Pope John Paul's 78th birthday. Audience for President Adamkus of Lithuania.
May 19
Audiences for Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Iraqi Vice Prime Minister Tarek Aziz.
May 23
Holy Father departs for Turin, his 132nd trip within Italy. Until May 24.
June 8
Cuban bishops start weeklong visit to Roman Curia.
June 9
Former Secretary of State Cardinal Agostino Casaroli dies.
June 12 Audience granted to Yasser Arafat, president of the Palestinian Authority.
June 16
Pope receives U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Holy See Permanent Observer to the
United Nations, Archbishop Renato Mart
AUGUST 22:
Publication in six languages of the Notification decided in the ordinary session of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith on the writings of Fr. Anthony de Mello, S.J.
SEPTEMBER 7:
Letters of Credence from new ambassador of Slovenia, Karl Bonutti.
SEPTEMBER 12:
Message for millennium celebrations of All Souls' Day, instituted by St. Odilio, Benedictine monk
and fifth abbot of Cluny.
SEPTEMBER 13:
Telegram for death today at age 88 of Cardinal Alois Grillmeier.
SEPTEMBER 14:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Nicaragua, Luvy Salerni Navas.
SEPTEMBER 15:
Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi meet. Also: The Vatican Information Service starts daily transmissions in Italian, adding this to
SEPTEMBER 18:
Departure for three-day trip to Chiavari and Brescia in northern Italy (his 134th pastoral trip
within Italy). Pope beatifies Giuseppe Tovini, layman and father of 10.
SEPTEMBER 24:
Agreement signed between Holy See and Kazakhstan.
SEPTEMBER 29:
Audience with King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.
OCTOBER 2:
John Paul II departs for three-day trip to Croatia, his 84th pastoral visit outside of Italy.
OCTOBER 3:
Beatification in Croatia of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac.
OCTOBER 9:
Agreement signed in Zagreb between Holy See and Croatia on economic questions. Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Slovakia, Marian Servatka.
OCTOBER 11:
Canonization in Rome of Blessed Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein).
OCTOBER 12:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Croatia, Marijan Sunjic.
OCTOBER 15:
Presentation of Pope's 13th Encyclical Letter "Fides et Ratio."
OCTOBER 16:
Pope John Paul celebrates 20th anniversary of his election as pontiff. Message for World Food
Day 1998.
OCTOBER 18:
Mass in St. Peter's Square to celebrate 20th anniversary of the Holy Father's election.
OCTOBER 19:
Audience with the president of Honduras, Carlos Roberto Flores Facusee.
OCTOBER 20:
Pope pays official visit to Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.
OCTOBER 22:
20th anniversary of the start of Pope John Paul's pontificate, the 11th longest in the history of the
Church.
OCTOBER 24:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from France, Jean Gueguinou.
OCTOBER 25:
Pope beatifies four Servants of God: Zefirino Agostini, Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao, Faustino Miguez and Theodore Guerin.
OCTOBER 29:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador of Costa Rica, Javier Guerra Laspiur. Inauguration of International Symposium on the Inquisition organized by Central Committee of the Great Jubilee.
OCTOBER 30:
Publication of some reflections from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on the primacy
of Peter.
NOVEMBER 5:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Guatemala, Sergio Ivan Bucaro Hurtarte. Telegrams to nuncios in the Central American countries suffering victims and
damages from hurricane Mitch.
NOVEMBER 7:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Colombia, Guillermo Leon- Escobar-Herran.
NOVEMBER 12:
Letters of Credence of new ambassador from Brazil, Marco Cesar Meira Naslausky. At United Nations in New York: Holy See urges support for Wye Memorandum on Middle
East Peace.
NOVEMBER 13:
Presentation of Instruction from the Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples, "Cooperatio Missionalis" (on missionary cooperation).
NOVEMBER 22:
Opening of Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops.
NOVEMBER 24:
Pope receives President Laurent-Desire Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
NOVEMBER 29:
First Sunday of Advent. Proclamation of Bull of Indiction for the Holy Year 2000, during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. Bull also sets forth the conditions for gaining
the Jubilee indulgence.
DECEMBER 1:
Cuban authorities reinstate Christmas as annual holiday.
DECEMBER 9:
Telegram for death of Cardinal Carlos Oviedo Cavada at age 71.
DECEMBER 12:
Pope presides over Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to close the Special Assembly for Oceania of the Synod of Bishops.
DECEMBER 15:
Message for 32nd World Day of Peace: "Respect for Human Rights: The Secret of True Peace."
DECEMBER 16:
Letters of Credence of the first ambassador from the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Laleshwar Kumar Narayan Singh; and the ambassadors Isaac Agboola Aluko-Olokun from Nigeria;
Apas Dschumagulov of Kyrgyzstan and Sukh- Ochir Bold from Mongolia.
.../HIGHLIGHTS 1998/... VIS 981230 (650)
© by Grace Soileau