We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies, and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.ĭriven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. Saint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II.
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