OCTOBER 22: START OF 23RD YEAR OF JOHN PAUL'S PONTIFICATE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 22, 2000 (VIS) - Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the solemn inauguration of the pontificate of John Paul II, who was elected to the papacy on October 16, 1978.

In the past 22 years, the Holy Father has made 92 pastoral visits outside of Italy, visiting 123 different nations, 138 pastoral visits within Italy and 291 visits to Roman parishes. John Paul II is the bishop of Rome.

He has written 13 encyclicals, 12 apostolic exhortations, 10 apostolic constitutions, 37 apostolic letters and 23 Motu proprio.

There have been 123 beatification ceremonies during which he has proclaimed 994 Blesseds (756 martyrs and 238 confessors), and 41 canonization ceremonies in which he proclaimed 447 Saints (401 martyrs and 46 confessors).

Pope John Paul has held 7 consistories in which he has created 157 cardinals. As of today, the College of Cardinals consists of 142 cardinals (98 eligible to vote and 44 over 80 years of age): Of these, 118 were created by the Holy Father (86 eligible to vote and 32 over 80 years of age).

He has also convened 5 plenary meetings of the College of Cardinals.

During John Paul II's pontificate there have been 14 synods of bishops: 5 ordinary general assemblies, 1 extraordinary general assembly, 7 special assemblies and 1 particular synod.
There have been over 1,260 audiences and meetings with political figures, including, in part, official visits with 38 heads of State, 621 other audiences and meetings with heads of State and 203 audiences and meetings with prime ministers.

In 22 years there have been 966 weekly general audiences with a presence of an estimated 15,600,000 faithful from every part of the world.

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