Pope+John+Paul+II+-+Larisa+Rus



As pope, John Paul II continued to implement the decisions of Vatican II and placed special emphasis on Marian devotion. He traveled widely, increasing the international character of the papacy. In the first decade alone of his pontificate he visited 50 countries, in spite of the physical setback caused by his being shot in St. Peter's Square on May 13, 1981, by a Turkish terrorist. Despite his increasing age and frailty, he continued to travel until nearly the end of the papacy, visiting 129 nations during 104 trips abroad. In 1998, for example, he visited Cuba; in 1999 he visited Romania and Georgia, becoming the first pope to visit predominantly Orthodox countries; in 2000 he visited the Holy Land; in 2001 he retraced St. Paul's missionary journeys in Greece, Syria, and Malta and visited Ukraine; and in 2002 he visited Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Guatemala, and Mexico. He expanded international representation in the College of Cardinals and Roman Curia. from Iraq visited Pope John Paul II in Rome. A Muslim representative brought the Holy Qur'an, and the pope kissed it in front of all the participants.**
 * On May 14, 1999 a delegation of Christian and Muslim leaders


 * [[image:http://www2b.abc.net.au/news/guestbook/img/pope_banner.jpg width="472" height="195" align="right" link="http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/pope/default.htm"]] ||