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2.5 Million People visited Pope in 2011
Who is the most popular person in the world for the year 2011? Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears? Sure, when these stars come to town, they can easily attract up to 15,000 people, but how many fans would be willing to travel to, let’s say, Belgium or Uzbekistan to see their favorite singers perform?
This year, over 2.5 million people visited Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. That does not include the people who came to see the Pope in his visits through Italy and around the world or the 2 million young people who came to World Youth Day.
Number of People who came to see the Pope in 2011
General audiences 400,000
Private audiences 101,800
Liturgical celebrations 846,000
Angelus and Regina Caeli gatherings 1,206,000
Total: 2,553,800
The number of people who have visited Pope Benedict XVI this year has increased in the past three years.
Now, who do you think is the most popular person of the year? Pope Benedict XVI definitely has something special to offer the thousands of people who come to see him every year. They don’t come to hear a concert, listen to a stand up comedy, or hear an emotionally evoking testimony. They come to encounter Christ through His vicar on earth, the Pope.
This is why supporting and praying for the Pope is so important. He’s not a superstar or a talk show host. God chose him specifically to shepherd his flock, to lead his Church on earth! As Ancora members, let’s remember to pray for and support the Pope in this New Year as he meets with world leaders, politicians, and millions of people around the world.
Reference:
"Over 2.5 Million People Saw the Pope at the Vatican in 2011." ROME REPORTS. 31 Dec. 2011. .
"2.5M Visited the Pope in 2011." ZENIT. 6 Jan. 2012. .
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