... to the incredible pontificate of Pope John Paul II. But they provide some helpful context. From the Vatican's short bio of the Holy Father:
Since the start of his Pontificate on October 16, 1978, Pope John Paul II has completed 104 pastoral visits outside of Italy and 146 within Italy . As Bishop of Rome he has visited 317 of the 333 parishes .His principal documents include 14 encyclicals , 15 apostolic exhortations , 11 apostolic constitutions and 45 apostolic letters. The Pope has also published five books : "Crossing the Threshold of Hope" (October 1994); "Gift and Mystery: On the 50th Anniversary of My Priestly Ordination" (November 1996); "Roman Triptych - Meditations", a book of poems (March 2003); "Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way" (May 2004) and "Memory and Identity" (pubblication spring 2005).
John Paul II has presided at 147 beatification ceremonies ( 1,338 Blesseds proclaimed ) and 51 canonization ceremonies ( 482 Saints ) during his pontificate. He has held 9 consistories in which he created 231 (+ 1 in pectore) cardinals . He has also convened six plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals .
From 1978 to today the Holy Father has presided at 15 Synods of Bishops : six ordinary (1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994, 2001), one extraordinary (1985) and eight special (1980, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998[2] and 1999).
No other Pope has encountered so many individuals like John Paul II: to date, more than 17,600,000 pilgrims have participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1,160). Such figure is without counting all other special audiences and religious ceremonies held [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone] and the millions of faithful met during pastoral visits made in Italy and throughout the world. It must also be remembered the numerous government personalities encountered during 38 official visits and in the 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State , and even the 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
In the days and weeks to come the world, especially the media, will spend much time talking about many aspects of this amazing man and pontificate. Much of this will be profitable; some will be verbal chaff. The main focus at IgnatiusInsight.com and the Insight Scoop blog will be on the man and his teachings: what he really said, wrote, believed, preached, and taught.
But, first, let us mourn and rejoice, cry and smile, reflect and consider how fortunate we have been to have seen and heard and known John Paul II: man, priest, bishop, pope, theologian, philosopher, mystic, catechist, evangelist, apologist, spiritual father, and so, so much more. May all the angels and choirs of heaven embrace him into the heart of the Trinitarian dance, that great and eternal exchange of perfect love that so permeated his entire life and being.
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