Advertisement Messenger PublicationsMessenger Publications Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Pope John Paul II - special Jubilee report III


We continue our look at Pope John Paul's pontificate, with an overview of the highlights of the important events of the years 1989-1993: 1989 March 8 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). March 10 Reorganization of the pastoral government of the dioceses in Lithuania. April 20 Official visit of President Patrick J. Hillery of Ireland. April 28 41st pastoral visit outside Italy: Madagascar, La Reunion, Zambia and Malawi (April 28-May 6). May 27 Official visit of U.S. President George Bush. June 1 42nd pastoral trip outside Italy: Norway, Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Sweden (June 1-10). July 17 Restoration of diplomatic relations between Poland and the Holy See. August 15 Angelus message in which the Pope reveals his wish to personally go to Lebanon as soon as possible and makes yet another heartfelt appeal for peace in that nation. Augustus 19 43rd papal trip abroad: Santiago de Compostella, Spain for Fourth World Youth Day, and Asturias (August 19-21). August 27 Apostolic Letter on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War. September 7 In an address to a symposium organized by the Pontifical Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies, Pope traces a "charter" for fruitful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. September 7 Apostolic Letter to all Bishops of the Catholic Church on the situation in Lebanon. World Day of Prayer for Peace in Lebanon. September 29 Official visit of Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie. October 2 Joint statement of John Paul II and Archbishop Runcie. October 6 44th foreign pastoral visit: Seoul, Korea, Indonesia and Mauritius (October 6-10). 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." December 1 Official visit of President Mikhail Gorbachev of the USSR: marks the first time a Pope has met with the head of the Soviet government. December 21 New appointment of bishops in Czechoslovakia. 1990 January 25 45th pastoral visit outside Italy: Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad (January 25-February 1). March 15 Exchange of official representatives at the level of apostolic nuncio and special ambassador between the Holy See and the Soviet government. April 21 46th pastoral visit outside Italy: Czechoslovakia. April 22 In Velehrad, Czechoslovakia, John Paul II announces a Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. April 27 Official visit of President Mario Soares of Portugal. May 6 47th pastoral visit outside Italy: Mexico and Curacao (May 6-14). May 25 48th pastoral visit outside Italy: Malta. August 26 During his Angelus message John Paul II appeals for peace in the Persian Gulf, following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. September 1 49th pastoral visit outside Italy: Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Ivory Coast (September 1-10). September 30 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). October 18 Promulgation of Code of Canons for 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 Cardinal Secretary of State Agostino Casaroli and appoints Archbishop Angelo Sodano pro-secretary of State. December 21 Vatican Information Service transmits first bulletin in English and Spanish: destined for bishops and nuncios. December 25 From "Urbi et Orbi" message: "War is an adventure with no return." Papal appeal for peace in Persian Gulf. 1991 January 15 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. January 17 Start of Gulf War. February 5 Official visit of President Lech Walesa of the Polish Republic. February 28 End of Gulf War. March 4 Meeting at the Vatican of episcopal representatives from the countries directly implicated in the Gulf War. April 4 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." April 8 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). April 13 Reorganization of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church in the Soviet Republics 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. May 1 Papal encyclical "Centesimus Annus" (The Hundredth Year), commemorating 100 years of papal social teaching, beginning with Leo XIII's "Rerum Novarum" of 1891. May 3 Official visit of King Carl Gustav XVI and Queen Silvia of Sweden. May 10 50th pastoral visit outside Italy: Portugal (May 10-13). June 1 51st pastoral visit outside Italy: Poland (June 1-9). June 12 Announcement of a Special Assembly for Lebanon of the Synod of Bishops. June 28 Fifth consistory of John Paul II for the creation of 22 new cardinals: Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei is revealed as the 1979 "in pectore" cardinal. August 13 52nd pastoral visit outside Italy: Czestochowa, Poland for the 6th World Youth Day, and Hungary (August 13-20). September 7 Holy See and Albania establish diplomatic ties. October 5 Ecumenical prayer service at St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the 6th centenary of the canonisation of St Brigid 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 53rd pastoral visit outside Italy: Brazil (October 12-21). 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," (November 28-December 14). December 12 Ecumenical prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica, on the occasion of the Special Assembly for Europe of the Synod of Bishops. 1992 January 1 Holy See recognizes Russian Federation. January 12 Holy See recognizes sovereignty of Croatia and Slovenia. January 27 Pope creates Assemblee des Ordinaires Catholiques de Terre Sainte. February 8 Diplomatic relations with Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine. February 19 54th pastoral visit outside Italy: Senegal, Gambia and Guinea (February 19-26). March 7 Promulgation of new General Regulations of the Roman Curia. March 11 Diplomatic relations with Kingdom of Swaziland. March 19 Trip to Sorrento, Castellamare di Stabia, Italy. March 25 Restructuring of Church in Poland. April 4 Diplomatic relations with Mongolia. April 7 Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Pastores Dabo Vobis" (Shepherds I give you). April 9 "Populorum Progressio" Foundation made public. April 30 102nd trip within Italy: Friuli region (to May 3). May 13 Pope John Paul institutes World Day for the Sick, to be celebrated annually on February 11. May 17 Beatification of Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei, and of Giuseppina Bakhita of Sudan. May 23 103rd trip within Italy - Campania. Diplomatic relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova. May 25 Visit to Pope by Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury George Leonard Carey. June 1 First "ad limina" visit of Bulgarian Episcopal Conference. Diplomatic relations with Republic of Nauru. June 4 55th pastoral visit outside Italy: Angola and Sao Tome and Principe (June 4-10). June 19 104th trip in Italy: Lombardy (to June 21). June 30 5,000th day of Pope John Paul's pontificate, which began October 22, 1978. July 12 At the Angelus John Paul II announces that he will go to Gemelli Hospital that evening for diagnostic tests. July 15 Holy Father undergoes colic resection surgery. His gallbladder is removed due to gallstones. John Paul II is released from Gemelli Polyclinic on July 26. July 29 Holy See-Israel working commission formed. August 22 Dramatic appeal for peace in the Balkans at Angelus. September 21 Diplomatic relations between Holy See and Mexico. October 9 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). October 17 Diplomatic relations with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan. November 6 First "ad limina" by Slovenia's bishops. November 11 Diplomatic relations with Belarus. November 16 Apostolic Constitution "Fidei Depositum," for new catechism, is made public; Catechism of the Catholic Church presented in Paris. November 27 Official visit of President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of the Italian Republic. December 7 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. December 25 Bishops of Albania appointed. 1993 January 1 Holy See recognizes Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. January 9 At Assisi, special prayer meeting for peace in Europe and particularly in the Balkans (January 9-10). January 21 Official visit of Giuliano Amato, president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy. January 25 Pope announces new Ecumenical Directory. February 3 57th pastoral visit outside Italy: Benin, Uganda and Khartoum (February 3-10). John Paul II announces that the synod for Africa will be held in the Vatican in 1994. February 11 1st World Day of the Sick. February 19 Official visit of President Milan Kacan of Slovenia. February 23 Motu Proprio "Europae Orientalis" with which Permanent Interdicastery Commission for the Church in Eastern Europe substitutes Pontifical Commission for Russia. March 19 Trip to Sabina-Poggio-Mirteto, Italy. April 25 58th pastoral visit outside Italy: Albania. John Paul II ordains four bishops, restoring the hierarchy in a country that once declared itself officially atheist. May 4 Pontifical Councils for Culture and for Dialogue with Non-believers are joined: name is Pontifical Council for Culture. May 8 Start of three-day trip to Sicily, Italy. May 23 Pastoral trip to Arezzo, Italy. May 29 Conclusion of the second Rome diocesan synod. June 1 Church re-structured in Hungary. June 4 "Centesimus Annus Pro Pontefice" Foundation announced. June 8 First ambassador from Romania presents credentials. June 9 Orthodox patriarch of Ethiopia received by Pope. June 12 59th pastoral visit outside Italy: Spain (June 12-17). June 19 Trip to Macerata, Foligno, Gran Sasso, Italy. Ends June 20. August 6 Papal encyclical "Veritatis Splendor"; published October 5, 1993. August 9 60th foreign pastoral visit: Jamaica, Merida and Denver, for 8th World Youth Day (August 9-16). September 3 Holy Father receives Emperor Akihito of Japan. September 4 61st pastoral visit outside Italy: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia (September 4-10). First ever visit by a Pope to these countries. September 23 John Paul II receives Mikhail Gorbachev. September 25 Trip to Asti, Italy. Ends September26. October 16 15th anniversary of Holy Father's election. November 5 Lebanon's President Elias Hrawi on visit; invites Pope to his country. November 11 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. December 13 South Africa's President De Klerk visits Pope. December 16 Official visit of President Carlos Saul Menem of Argentina. December 26 Opening of the International Year of the Family of the Catholic Church. December 30 Signing of the accord on basic principles regulating diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Israel. Source: VIS

Adverts

Apostleship of the Sea

We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information.

We Need Your Support

ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We need your help to continue this work.

You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN.

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon