Skip to main content

On this day in history, September 10, 1987, Pope John Paul II arrives in Miami, is warmly welcomed by Reagans

On this day in history, Sept. 10, 1987, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II, visited Miami, Florida, and was greeted by President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan.

Pope John Paul II arrived in Miami, Florida, on this day in history, Sept. 10, 1987, to begin a 10-day tour of the United States. He was greeted by President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan as well as thousands of well-wishers.

''I come as a pilgrim, a pilgrim in the cause of justice and peace and human solidarity, striving to build up the one human family,'' Pope John Paul said on that day, reading his remarks in English on a stage set under a canopy at Miami International Airport, The New York Times reported. 

The cheering audience of thousands waved flags and wore yellow-and-white papal colors. 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1956, ELVIS PRESLEY APPEARS ON ‘THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW’ FOR THE FIRST TIME

In his remarks upon the pope's arrival, President Reagan referenced the Florida heat. 

"Today's Florida sunshine," Reagan told the pope, "is no warmer than the greeting you will meet in this country," as multiple sources recounted.

Over the course of his nearly 27-year pontificate, Pope John Paul II would make seven different visits to the U.S. — five of significant length, and two brief stopovers during which he nevertheless left a lasting impression, according to the Catholic News Agency.

While in Miami for the September visit, he marked these events, according to the Archdiocese of Miami:

"The theme of the visit was unity, and Miami's multiculturalism was on full display, with Cuban flags and Polish Solidarity banners; music in Spanish, Creole, English and Gregorian chant; and the Mass celebrated in three languages," the Archdiocese of Miami also recounted.

In addition to Miami, the pontiff visited Columbia, South Carolina; New Orleans; San Antonio; Phoenix; Los Angeles; Monterey; San Francisco; and Detroit. 

"This trip was the longest of St. John Paul II's visits to the U.S., and his first to the contiguous West Coast," noted the Catholic News Agency.

Notable episodes following his time in Miami included addressing representatives of Black Catholics at the Superdome in New Orleans; attending an ecumenical conference on the University of South Carolina campus; celebrating Mass in San Antonio with about 275,000 in attendance; touring a Catholic hospital and attending the Tekakwitha Conference, a national gathering of Native American Catholics, at the Arizona State Fair Grounds Coliseum in Phoenix; and addressing representatives from the communications industry in Los Angeles, the same source indicated.

MEET THE AMERICAN WHO FIRST ACHIEVED SAINTHOOD, ELIZABETH ANN SETON, MOTHER, EDUCATOR, MIRACLE WORKER

Pope John Paul was born in Wadowice, Poland, on May 18, 1920, as Karol Wojtyla. 

He was elected pope on Oct. 16, 1978 — and served until his death on April 2, 2005. 

He was a pope of many firsts.

He was the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century and the most traveled pope in history. He visited 129 countries, including Cuba and Haiti, the Catholic News Agency indicated. 

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 2, 2005, POPE JOHN PAUL II DIES AT AGE 84

In addition, he was the first pope to visit the White House (1979), the first to travel to the United Kingdom and pray with the Anglican archbishop of Canterbury (1982); the first to visit Egypt and meet with the Coptic pope and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria (2000); the first to visit Greece and pray in a mosque (2001); the first to visit and celebrate Mass at Auschwitz (1979); the first to set foot in a Jewish synagogue since the earliest days of Christianity (Rome, 1986); and the first to pray at the Western Wall during a visit to Jerusalem (2000), according the same source.

On April 2, 2005, John Paul II, died at his home in the Vatican

He was 84. 

Six days later, two million people packed Vatican City for his funeral, said History.com.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Pope John Paul II is remembered for his successful efforts to end communism, as well as for building bridges with peoples of other faiths, and issuing the Catholic Church's first apology for its actions during World War II, the same source reported.

Pope John Paul was succeeded by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI. 

Then, Pope Francis succeeded Pope Benedict in March 2013 and canonized John Paul II in April 2014.

Data & News supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Stock quotes supplied by Barchart
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the following
Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.