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During his reign, Pope John Paul II, known as "The Pilgrim Pope," made 146 pastoral visits within Italy and 104 international trips, covering over 1,167,000 km (725,000 mi), more than all previous popes combined. He attracted massive crowds, with some of the largest gatherings in history. While some destinations, such as the United States and Israel, had been visited by his predecessor Paul VI, many were unprecedented papal visits. John Paul II visited 129 countries, including nine visits to Poland, eight to France, seven to the United States, and five each to Mexico and Spain. His travels spanned six continents, reaching countries such as Albania, Brazil, India, Israel, and the Philippines.
Pope John Paul II's visit to Switzerland on June 5 and 6, 2004, marked a significant occasion as he addressed the nation's Catholic community and emphasized the importance of interfaith dialogue and reconciliation. During his trip, the Pope participated in the 60th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Swiss Guard, the Vatican's elite military corps, underscoring their dedication and service to the Holy See. He also visited the city of Bern, where he met with representatives of different faiths and called for mutual respect and cooperation among religious communities. Additionally, the Pope celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Bern, highlighting themes of unity, peace, and the need for Christian values in a multicultural society. His visit served to strengthen the ties between the Vatican and the Swiss people, inspiring them to uphold their faith in the face of contemporary challenges while fostering a spirit of solidarity and understanding within their diverse communities.
Obverse
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Depicts the coat of arms of Malawi dividing the date, country name above and denomination below. REPUBLIC OF MALAWI |
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Reverse
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Depicts Pope John Paul II sitting on a chair blessing the Swiss Guards (former papal guards) holding halberd and their name at the right vertically, the Vatican emblem below them behind a banner containing the date of visit (days and year) and the number of visits within a circle from 104 Papal visits surrounded by country names above with crosses above and inscription of occasion and His Holiness name below. + SWITZERLAND + |
Edge |
5 Kwacha
Republic
Papal Visits
John Paul II in Switzerland
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KM#
Papal Visits
John Paul II in Switzerland
Characteristics
Type | Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating) |
Material | Silver Plated Copper |
Weight | 27.1 g |
Diameter | 38.3 mm |
Thickness | - |
Shape | round |
Alignment | Medal |