STATISTICS ON THE PAPACY OF JOHN PAUL II

VATICAN CITY, OCT 19, 2001 (VIS) - Monday, October 22 marks the 23rd anniversary of the solemn inauguration of Pope John Paul II's pontificate. Statistics on his pontificate have been compiled by both Vatican Radio, which helps to organize the papal trips abroad, and by the Holy See Press Office.

John Paul II has made 95 foreign apostolic trips and 140 trips within Italy, travelling a total of 928 days and 1,205,312 kilometers (723,187 miles), over three times the distance to the moon. He has given 3,251 speeches during those 235 trips and has spent 11.21 percent of his pontificate outside of Rome.

As Bishop of Rome he has visited 297 of the diocese's 325 parishes.

The Holy Father has written 13 encyclicals, 12 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 41 apostolic letters and 25 Motu proprio. He has proclaimed 1,272 Blesseds in 129 beatification ceremonies, and 452 Saints in 42 canonization ceremonies.

John Paul II has held eight consistories for the creation of cardinals and has named a total of 201 cardinals. The current College of Cardinals is composed of 179 members (130 electors and 49 over the age of 80), 157 of whom have been created by Pope John Paul.

He has convened six plenary reunions of the College of Cardinals and there have been 15 synods during his pontificate: 6 ordinary general assemblies, 1 extraordinary general assembly, 7 special assemblies and 1 particular synod.

Pope John Paul has held over 1,330 audiences and meetings with political figures, including 38 official visits by heads of state, 641 other audiences with heads of state and 210 audiences and encounters with prime ministers.
He has presided over 1,009 weekly general audiences (including October 17) in 23 years in the presence of 16,155,200 pilgrims.

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