The 1984 Papal Visit

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Topic spans: 1984 - 1987

It was one of the biggest events in Canadian history. On Sept. 9, 1984 Pope John Paul II kissed the tarmac in Quebec City to kick off the first Canadian papal visit. In the frenzied atmosphere of a rock concert, Canadians flocked for a fleeting glimpse of the Holy Father. Over the next 12 days the Pope stirred millions with his condemnation of injustice and poverty, along with his traditional stance on birth control and divorce.

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Beep beep! It's the 'popemobile'

Broadcast Date: July 12, 1984

It's still months away but organizers are already scrambling to prepare for the Pope's visit. The tour will be one of the biggest events to take place in Canada.
John Paul II is expected to attract enormous crowds of as many as a half a million people. Papal organizers know that hordes of admiring worshippers can lead to a security nightmare.

The Supreme Pontiff has had two serious attempts on his life. In 1981 a Turkish gunman shot from the crowd in St. Peter's Square, seriously injuring the Pope. A year later at a church in Fatima, Portugal a priest unsuccessfully lunged at the Pope with a bayonet.
In order to protect one of the world's most recognized figures, the organizers have created the popemobile. It's a jazzed-up white pickup truck with a bulletproof shield and red velvet interior to provide comfort as well as protection for the Holy Father.

Beep beep! It's the 'popemobile'

• Karol Józef Wojtyla was elected to the papacy in October 1978, becoming the 264th — and the first Slavic — pope.
• He was born in Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometres from Cracow, Poland on May 18, 1920.
• The Pope had two serious accidents growing up. He was hit by a streetcar, then later by a truck. The injuries left the Pope, who is 5-foot-10 1/2 inches, with a slight stoop to his shoulders.

• Two popemobiles were assembled at a plant near Montreal. While John Paul II paraded around in one, the other was flown ahead to the next city on his tour.
• The popemobile travelled at an average speed of 15 km-h.
• CBC Television was the official broadcaster for the 1984 papal visit. For 12 days 387 cameras, 1,700 microphones, five earth stations and two satellites tracked the Pope's every move.

• In Toronto, 7,122 security personnel watched over Pope John Paul II during his 43-hour visit to Canada's biggest city. It was the largest army of police personnel ever assembled for a single purpose in Canada. Non-Catholics were assigned the duty because organizers believed they'd be less emotional in the Pope's presence.

Beep beep! It's the 'popemobile'

Medium: Television

Program: The National

Broadcast Date: July 12, 1984

Host: Knowlton Nash

Duration: 0:27

Last updated:
Aug. 25, 2008

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