Apostolic trips abroad were made possible by the determination of Pope Paul VI, the first Pontiff to board a plane and travel across the globe to strengthen the faith of believers.
Between 1964 and 1970, Pope Paul VI embarked on a total of nine foreign journeys, covering all continents.
His first historic trip took place from January 4th to 6th, 1964, as a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he shared an unforgettable embrace with Athenagoras, the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople.
In December 1964, from the 2nd to the 5th, the Pope embarked on his second international apostolic trip to India, specifically attending the International Eucharistic Congress held in Bombay.
On October 4th and 5th, 1965, Paul VI visited the United Nations headquarters in New York, delivering a speech advocating for peace during the General Assembly.
The fourth international apostolic trip occurred on May 13th, 1967, when the Pope traveled to Fatima to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Madonna’s apparitions and commemorate the 25th anniversary of the world’s consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Pope Pius XII.
Another significant visit took place in 1967, between July 25th and 26th, when Paul VI visited Turkey, specifically Istanbul, Ephesus, and Smyrna. In Istanbul, he was warmly received at the patriarchal church of St. George at the Phanar, engaging in another meeting with Athenagoras.
In 1968, the Pope embarked on a trip to Colombia, from August 22nd to 25th, to participate in the International Eucharistic Congress in Bogotá. During his return to Rome, he made a brief stopover in Bermuda.
On June 10th, 1969, Paul VI arrived in Geneva to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the International Labour Organization. In addition, he visited the headquarters of the World Council of Churches in the Swiss city.
From July 31st to August 2nd, 1969, the Pope undertook an apostolic trip to Uganda. During this visit, he consecrated 12 new bishops and celebrated Mass to mark the conclusion of the Symposium of Bishops of Africa.
The final international apostolic trip of Paul VI’s pontificate occurred from November 25th to December 5th, 1970. This journey took him to East Asia and Australia, encompassing Iran, Pakistan (now Bangladesh), the Philippines (where he endured an attack upon arrival), Western Samoa, Australia (where he consecrated the first native bishop of New Guinea), Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. These destinations marked the memorable stages of this extensive and concluding foreign trip during the Montinian pontificate.
