NEWS SIDEBAR: Timeline of the Life of Pope John Paul II

c. 2005 Religion News Service _ May 18, 1920: Born Karol Josef Wojtyla, in Wadowice, Poland, near Krakow, to father Karol Wojtyla and mother Emilia Kaczorowska. _ 1929: Mother dies of kidney and heart failure. _ 1932: Older brother Edmund dies of scarlet fever. _ 1938: Enrolls in the philosophy department of Jagellonian University in […]

c. 2005 Religion News Service

_ May 18, 1920: Born Karol Josef Wojtyla, in Wadowice, Poland, near Krakow, to father Karol Wojtyla and mother Emilia Kaczorowska.


_ 1929: Mother dies of kidney and heart failure.

_ 1932: Older brother Edmund dies of scarlet fever.

_ 1938: Enrolls in the philosophy department of Jagellonian University in Krakow and joins “Studio 38,” an experimental theater group.

_ 1939: World War II breaks out, forcing the university to close. Wojtyla starts work at a stone quarry to avoid deportation to Germany.

_ 1941: Father dies.

_ 1942: Leaves stone quarry to work at the Solvay chemical plant. Begins studies for the priesthood in an underground seminary.

_ 1946: Ordained to the priesthood. Departs for Rome for doctoral studies.

_ 1948: Returns to Poland and continues studies at the Jagellonian University, going on to teach there and at the Catholic University of Lublin.

_ 1958: Pope Pius XII names Wojtyla auxiliary bishop of Krakow.

_ 1960: Publishes “Love and Responsibility,” dealing with sexuality and ethics and advocating equality between men and women in marriage.

_ 1962-1965: Attends all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

_ 1964: Officially named archbishop of Krakow.

_ 1967: Created cardinal by Pope Paul VI.

_ 1968: Contributes, anonymously, to Paul VI’s encyclical Humanae Vitae, which banned artificial contraception and reiterated the church’s opposition to abortion.

_ August 1978: Participates in conclave electing Cardinal Albino Luciani as Pope John Paul I.

_ October 1978: Following Pope John Paul I’s sudden death, elected Pope John Paul II, the 264th pope. Also becomes the first non-Italian pope in 456 years and at 58 the youngest pope in 132 years.


_ 1979: Accepts a request for mediation from Argentina and Chile, helping to defuse threats of a potential war. Publishes his first encyclical, “Redemptor Hominis,” on human rights and social justice. In one of four foreign trips that year, he visits Poland, strengthening Polish resolve against the Communist regime. In the fall he makes his first pastoral trip to the United States, stopping in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago and Washington. Meets with President Jimmy Carter.

_ 1980: Meets with President Carter at the Vatican.

_ 1981: Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca shoots the pope in St. Peter’s Square, narrowly missing his heart. He spends nearly four months recovering and undergoes three operations. Makes second trip to the United States, stopping in Anchorage, Alaska, on his way back from Japan, where his visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki deeply impress his mainly non-Christian hosts.

_ 1982: Makes pilgrimage to Portuguese shrine to thank Our Lady of Fatima _ said to have revealed three secrets to the children to whom she appeared in 1917 _ for saving his life.

_ 1983: Meets with assassin Ali Agca in prison.

_ 1984: The Vatican and the United States establish diplomatic relations.

_ 1986: Visits Rome’s main synagogue, becoming first pope in history to do so. At pope’s invitation, hundreds of religious leaders convene at the birthplace of St. Francis of Assisi to pray for world peace. First official World Youth Day held in Rome.

_ 1987: Receives Austrian President Kurt Waldheim on an official state visit, sparking protests. Makes trip to Miami; Columbia, S.C.; San Antonio, Texas; Phoenix; Los Angeles; Monterey and Carmel, Calif.; San Francisco and Detroit. Receives President Reagan at the Vatican.

_ 1988: Releases “Sollicitudo Rei Socialis,” blasting poverty and social injustice.

_ 1989: The Vatican and Poland restore diplomatic relations. Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the first Soviet leader to meet with a pope. Receives President George H.W. Bush at the Vatican.


_ 1991: Opposes Persian Gulf War, saying that the U.S. and other Western countries did not work hard enough toward a peaceful resolution of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Hosts two Lutheran bishops at St. Peter’s Basilica _ the first such visit since the Reformation _ for prayers to mark the 600th anniversary of the canonization of St. Brigit of Sweden.

_ 1992: Undergoes an operation to remove his gallbladder and a benign tumor from his colon. The Vatican publishes an updated Catechism of the Catholic Church, incorporating changes resulting from Vatican II.

_ 1993: Attends World Youth Day in Denver. Dislocates his right shoulder after falling at the Vatican.

_ 1994: The Vatican and Israel establish diplomatic relations. Pope John Paul II falls in his bathroom and undergoes hip replacement surgery. Receives President Clinton at the Vatican. Publishes “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” in 31 languages. Named Man of the Year by Time magazine.

_ 1995: Releases encyclicals “Evangelium Vitae,” reaffirming the church’s stance on life issues, and “Ut Unum Sint,” on Christian unity. Visits the United Nations and other spots in New York, Newark, N.J., and Baltimore. The pope’s annual Christmas message is posted on the Internet for the first time.

_ 1996: The Vatican confirms that the pope suffers from a neurological disorder, generally believed to be Parkinson’s. Has appendix removed. Celebrates his 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Issues “Universi Dominici Gregis” outlining the process to elect his successor.


_ 1997: Unveils Vatican Web site.

_ 1998: Visits Cuba, where he meets with Fidel Castro in a private session, criticizes the U.S. embargo against the island nation and calls for the release of hundreds of political prisoners. The Vatican publishes “We Remember: A Reflection on the Shoah.” The pope canonizes Edith Stein, a convert to Catholicism from Judaism, who died in a Nazi concentration camp.

_ 1999: Receives Mohammad Khatami _ the first Iranian leader to make the trip since the 1979 Islamic revolution _ in audience. Visits St. Louis and meets with President Clinton. On Christmas Eve he opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, kicking off the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000.

_ 2000: Holds a groundbreaking day of pardon for sins committed by members of the Catholic Church over the centuries. Makes historic trips to the Holy Land, stopping in Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian territories. At the pope’s request, the Italian government grants clemency to assassin Mehmet Ali Agca. The Vatican publishes a doctrinal declaration on salvation, “Dominus Iesus,” sparking criticism from leaders of other religions.

_ 2001: On a visit to Syria, the pope becomes the first pope in history to enter a mosque. Holds 1,000th general audience. Meets with President George W. Bush. Hosts world religious leaders at Assisi to pray for peace following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

_ 2002: Convenes Rome summit of U.S. cardinals to address clergy sex abuse scandals. Travels to Guatemala, Mexico and Toronto, where he meets 350,000 young Catholics for World Youth Day. Holds second meeting with President Bush. In October, makes the first revision to the rosary in centuries.

_ 2003: Strongly opposes the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Publishes his 14th and final encyclical, “Ecclesia de Eucharistia.” Makes 100th overseas trip to Croatia. Beatifies the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Celebrates the 25th anniversary of his election as pope.


_ 2004: Becomes the third longest-serving pope in church history, trailing only Pope Piux IX and St. Peter. Creates 483rd saint. Hosts third meeting with President Bush.

_ 2005: Admitted to Rome hospital on Feb. 1 suffering from flu and breathing problems. Released on Feb. 10. Readmitted on Feb. 24 for emergency tracheotomy to help breathing. Returned to Vatican on March 13. Given last rites on March 31.

SOURCE: Holy See, Religion News Service

KRE/JM END CIPOLLA

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