I am trying to find out what the Pope does on a daily basis?

-- Gerald (digus5@aol.com), February 13, 2001

Answers

Dear Gerald,
If you find out, let us all know! OK, just kidding, that's a good question.

I've seen His Holiness once, in Los Angeles. He went by in the Popemobile, and gave us in the crowds a papal blessing.

I've never been to Rome. But I see him in the usual public ceremonies and holiday appearances he makes in St Peter's Basilica, over TV (EWTN). This is in the ceremonial or official capacity, of course. I think your question is about the other, private life. In that day to day existence, he is seen mostly in private audiences. These might be routine affairs, with a short visit from public figures or pilgrimage gatherings at the Vatican. We have to understand he's been infirm for some time now. In his old age, and with his health failing, it's a wonder he is still planning visits to the Catholic faithful around the world.

But I think we can safely say his days are spent in prayer and meditation when he's not officially occupied. He has written extensively in the past, and it would be unusual if he stopped now. I have to suppose he's assisted in that work by a private secretary or maybe a team of them. The last large project, I believe has been the Jubilee Year 2,000 for which he held high expectations. These are necessarily things he takes great responsibility for personally.

But in his declining years it's probable he'll become less active, in everything except prayer and celebration of the Mass, and other offices. If you are a Catholic (or even if not), I would suggest to you, pray for him, Gerald. Thank you!

-- eugene c. chavez (chavezec@pacbell.net), February 14, 2001.

Jmj

Hello, Gerald. You might consider buying, or borrowing from the library, the new, official biography of the pope:
"Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II" by George Weigel. (HarperCollins/Cliff Books. 992 pages, $36.00)
As you can see, it is huge, and it probably tells what the pope's average day [if there is such a thing] is like at this point in his life.

Mr. Weigel had many extensive interviews with the pope, over the course of some years, to help him prepare the book. The pope himself requested Weigel as his biographer.
You might like to take a look at this Vatican Information Service page, clicking on "English" and then choosing from the list of dates, to see some of the official actions of the pope. Of course, this is not going to give you his "horarium" (at what time he rises, prays, celebrates Mass, eats meals, meets with the heads of curial departments, meets with visiting bishops from around the world, meets with heads of state, meets with ambassadors, writes homilies/encyclicals/apostolic letters, exercises, and retires).

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jgecik@desc.dla.mil), February 14, 2001.

What is the popes role in a church

-- Earl People (EarlLooksStoned@hotmail.com), September 17, 2003.

I got this in an email and thought it was relevant.

IN 23 YEARS OF HIS PONTIFICATE, THESE ARE SOME OF >THE REASONS WHY THE POPE IS TIRED: > >NUMBER OF TRIPS OUTSIDE OF ITALY: 95 >NUMBER OF TRIPS INSIDE ITALY, NOT INCLUDING ROME: 140 >VISITS IN ROME AND CASTELGANGOLFO: 726 >BEATIFICATIONS: 1,282 >CANONIZATIONS: 456 >NUMBER OF NATIONS VISITED: 130 >NUMBER OF CITIES VISITED: 604 >NUMBER OF SPEECHES OUTSIDE OF ITALY: 3,430 >SPEECHES DURING HIS PONTIFICATE: 20,341 >NUMBER OF GENERAL AUDIENCES: 1,218 > > >PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS: >13 ENCYCLICAS >13 APOSTOLIC EXHORTATIONS >11 APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTIONS >41 APOSTOLIC LETTERS >THE NEW CATHECHISM > >NUMBER OF PERSONS THAT HAVE ATTENDED HIS GENERAL >AUDIENCES: 16,930,200 >DURATIONS OF HIS TRIPS:541 DAYS, 18 HRS, 25 MIN >TOTAL OF KILOMETERS: 1,400,607 >(THIS IS 28,3 TIMES AROUND THE WORLD. IT IS 2,97 >TIMES THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE EARTH AND THE MOON. >AND ALL THIS ACCOMPLISHED WITH 18 HOURS DAILY WORK) > >HE DOES NOT TAKE ANY MEDICINES. >HE HAS HAD 6 SURGERIES. >IN ONE OF THESE, THEY CUT 2,5 METERS OF INTESTINE. >HE HAS ARTROSIS IN ONE LEG, THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT >FOR HIM TO WALK. EVEN SO, HE NEVER COMPLAINS AND >KEEPS GOING FORWARD. > >WHATEVER YOUR BELIEF MAY BE, THIS POPE IS AN >EXAMPLE FOR ALL, CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS, >SICK OR HEALTHY. HE DOES THIS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THE >LOVE OF GOD FOR HUMANKIND. > >ON HIS LAST TRIP TO BULGARIA, HE WAS ASKED IF HE >WILL STEP DOWN, AND HE ANSWERED: > >"IF CHRIST HAD STEP DOWN FROM THE CROSS, I WOULD >HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THE SAME" > >POPE JOHN PAUL II HAS ASKED ON SATURDAY JULY 6TH >WHEN HE WAS PRAYING THE ANGELUS IN FRONT OF >PILGRIMS TO ST. PETER'S SQUARE, FOR US TO PRAY >FOR HIM. HE SAID HE IS STILL THERE BECAUSE OF >THE STRENGTH THAT PRAYERS GIVE HIM.

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), September 17, 2003.

Great stuff, Jake H. Thanks. JFG

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 17, 2003.