Globe-trotting pope making his 100th foreign tour despite age, infirmities
Tuesday,June3,2003,3:03 PM
Vatican City-AP -- Despite his age and infirmities, Pope John Paul continues his globe-trotting ways, beginning his 100th foreign tour on Thursday, visiting Croatia for five days. Vatican Radio says after the Croatia trip, the pope will have been on the road for 575 days -- nearly a year-and-a-half of his pontificate.
The pope hit the road almost from the start of his papacy. Upon his election in October 1978, he accepted an invitation to the Dominican Republic and Mexico for a trip his predecessor had turned down. That trip in January 1979 was the start of travel to 129 countries.
And ahead of the pope this year is a day trip to Bosnia later this month and an August pilgrimage to Mongolia.
John Paul is 83 and suffers from Parkinson's disease and hip and knee ailments.
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