In 1979, the Pope began the first of many historic world tours
Breaking centuries of tradition, Pope John Paul II departed from the Vatican in 1979 to begin a historic journey that would redefine the papacy as a global, mobile ministry.
On January 25, 1979, Pope John Paul II boarded a plane for the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and the Bahamas, marking the start of his first official international tour. While previous popes had rarely traveled, John Paul II transformed the office into a globe-trotting mission. He eventually visited 129 countries during his long tenure.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz