Gee Whiz Stuff

The former ruler of the Catholic Empire kept Vatican record keepers busy following his election to Peter’s Chair.

When he was elected to the papacy on Oct. 16, 1978, John Paul II became the 263rd successor to St. Peter.

Having just surpassed Pius VI, at 24 years, 6 months, and 8 days, John Paul II's pontificate becomes the fourth longest in Church history…

Only three Roman Pontiffs have now reigned longer than John Paul II. They are Leo XIII (25 years, 5 months), Pius IX (31 years, 7 months, 21 days) and St. Peter (precise dates unknown) . . .

In this almost-quarter-of-a-century reign, the Holy Father has amassed unparalleled statistics, including 98 foreign apostolic trips (the May 3-4 trip to Madrid will be his 99th), and 142 within Italy, not including those to various institutions in his diocese of Rome, for a total of nearly three-quarters of a million miles. He has written 14 encyclicals, 13 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 42 apostolic letters and 28 Motu proprio. John Paul II has proclaimed 1,314 Blesseds in 138 ceremonies and, as of Sunday, May 4, will have proclaimed 469 Saints in 48 liturgical celebrations. He has held eight consistories for the creation of cardinals and has named a total of 201 cardinals. The last consistory was February 2001. The current College of Cardinals is comprised of 168 members, of whom 112 are eligible to vote in a conclave…As the most peripatetic Pontiff in history, John Paul II has visited 133 countries...--- John Paul II's Pontificate Is 4th Longest in History, © 04-30-03, Zenit Org., quoted on the University of Dayton’s Mary Page. (My emphasis)

NOTE: Wikipedia reports that JP2 was the 264th Popentate. His tenure was the second longest in Catholic's version of history. Only Pius IX ruled longer than he did.

Did you notice? The Vatican Information Service—the agency that provided Zenit the details quoted above—lists Peter as one of the four longest reigning popes, yet admits that the precise dates of his reign are not known. Of course the precise dates of his reign are unknown. While it may be that Peter spent time in Rome, there is no historical evidence that he ever held a position even vaguely similar to that of pope. Just another example of the way the Catholic Church uses what she calls Tradition.

During his nearly 27 years as Catholic sovereign John Paul II elevated the ghosts of perhaps 1820 men and women to demigodship in the Romish pantheon. The Catholic news agency Zenit reports that 480 of these were canonized and Wikipedia informs that the other 1340 were beatified. After counting a seemingly interminable list of JP2's canonizations at the Vatican's web site, I came up with a different number than did the Zenit source, but when it comes to Romish "facts and figures," numbers seem to vary according to the sources. That averages out to nearly 67 new godlets per year in office. In all honesty, it should be noted that it is possible that not all the new Catholic deities are ghosts of men and women. Over the years, the Catholic Church has raised angelic beings to demigod status. She has also conferred sainthood on mythical creatures and/or beings who may never have existed. Not that it matters for, in Catholicism, it’s the thought that counts, not the reality.

John Paul II consecrated his life to Catholic Mary, and in his frequent travels he seems to have been doing his best to emulate her example. If we are to believe accounts of mystics, visionaries and New Age psychics, Rome’s goddess Catholic Mary has also shown herself to be a frequent traveler. I have written a number of articles examining the invisible and inaudible phenomena generally identified as Marian apparitions. I refer to these as invisible and inaudible because, until recently, only the visionaries, mystics and New Age psychics have claimed to have been able to see and interact with earth-mother Mary.

Some may be surprised, perhaps outraged, by my having included New Age psychics among those who claim to have been visited by Catholic Mary. For those who do more than simply swallow and regurgitate the Romish party line, it should come as no surprise that the New Age has embraced Catholicism's archgoddess, whom it knows as Mother Mary, as one of its shining lights. Thanks to New Age psychics and the miracles of the computer age, no longer will common people be denied the opportunity to hear Mother Mary’s oracles from her own mouth. Click here to read "dictations" from Mary, Mother of Jesus. made available to the world on a New Age web site..

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.-- 2 Peter 2:1-3