A Pontificate to Remember: A Timeline

Oct. 16, 1978
Elected 264th Pope
March 1979 Promolgates first of 14 encyclicals, Redemptor hominis (“The Redeemer of Man”) September 1979 Makes first papal visit to homeland of Poland October 1979 Makes first of five U.S. visits May 1981 Wounded by assassination attempt in St. Peter’s Square December 1983 Visits Ali Agca, who made 1981 assassination attempt October 1986 Calls for World Day of Prayer for Peace and meets with representatives from other churches and religious groups. November 1989 Berlin Wall falls April 1994 Suffers broken femur bone in fall March 1995 Releases encyclical Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”) March 1997 The Holy See’s Internet site is launched January 1998 Meets Fidel Castro and celebrates Mass in Cuba May 2000 Celebrates 80th birthday September 2000 Beatifies Popes Pius XI and John XXIII June 2003 Makes 100th papal trip, this one to Croatia Oct. 19, 2003 Beatifies Mother Teresa Oct. 16, 2003 25th anniversary of pontificate