Pope John Paul II’s Historic Visit to Miami, Florida in 1987
On September 10, 1987, Pope John Paul II arrived in Miami, Florida, marking the beginning of his 10-day tour of the United States. His arrival was met with a warm welcome from President Ronald Reagan, first lady Nancy Reagan, and thousands of well-wishers. The New York Times reported that on that day, standing on a stage set under a canopy at Miami International Airport, Pope John Paul said, “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.”
The audience of thousands cheered, waved flags, and wore yellow-and-white papal colors in excitement. President Reagan, in his remarks, also mentioned the Florida heat, stating that “Today’s Florida sunshine 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 made seven visits to the U.S., with five of significant length and two brief stopovers. He left a lasting impression during each visit, as noted by the Catholic News Agency.
Highlights of Pope John Paul II’s Visit to Miami
During his visit to Miami in September 1987, Pope John Paul II participated in several significant events, including:
- Meeting with representatives of the nation’s priests at St. Martha Church in Miami Shores
- Attending a groundbreaking meeting with representatives of the U.S. Jewish community, paving the way for Vatican recognition of the state of Israel
- Parading down Biscayne Boulevard on his “popemobile”
- Celebrating an outdoor Mass at Tamiami Park, attended by over 200,000 people. The Mass was interrupted by a storm, but the pope continued the celebration in a trailer before coming out to bless the dedicated few who had stayed.
The Archdiocese of Miami noted that the theme of the visit was unity, and Miami’s multiculturalism was showcased with Cuban flags, Polish Solidarity banners, and music in Spanish, Creole, English, and Gregorian chant.
Pope John Paul II’s Legacy and Firsts
Pope John Paul II, born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in Wadowice, Poland, served as pope from October 16, 1978, until his death on April 2, 2005. Throughout his pontificate, he achieved many firsts:
- He was the first non-Italian pope since the 16th century and the most traveled pope in history, visiting 129 countries.
- He was the first pope to visit the White House, the United Kingdom, Egypt, Greece, Auschwitz, a Jewish synagogue in Rome, and the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
- He played a significant role in ending communism and worked towards building bridges with people of other faiths.
- He issued the Catholic Church’s first apology for its actions during World War II.
Upon his death, Pope John Paul II’s funeral attracted two million people to Vatican City, demonstrating the impact he had on the world. His successor, Pope Benedict XVI, was succeeded by Pope Francis in March 2013, who canonized John Paul II in April 2014.
Today, Pope John Paul II is remembered for his contributions to peace, justice, and unity, as well as for his historic achievements during his papacy.
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