Pope John Paul II arrived in the U.S. on Monday, Oct. 1, 1979 — touching down in Boston, and stopping in New York, Philadelphia, and Des Moines before arriving in Chicago on Thursday, Oct. 4.

Relive Pope John Paul II’s 1987 visit to Miami. Storms, a blessing under the rain at Tamiami Park, and memories that made history.

Without Pope John Paul II, the Cold War might have persisted for decades longer. Alas, Francis was no John Paul II. Too often, he put access and money above principle and values.

John Paul II led more than a billion Catholics for 27 years and revolutionized how the church's followers relate to the pope. He traveled to more than 125 countries, logging 680,000 miles of travel.