Events, situations … marking the course of the 20th Century

In the World In the Church In the Institute

1900 – China – Boxer Rebellion.

February 1901 – South Africa – Scorched earth policy launched by the English against the Boers.

July – France – Law passed authorising the dissolution of religious congregations.

1900 – China – Religious persecution. 1900 – 9 July – Martyrdom of Tai Yuan Fu

Entry into Spain and Madagascar

1901 – Encyclical "Graves de communi" defining "Christian Democracy" as beneficent Christian action amongst the people.

1902 – Beginning of the acute phase of the Modernist crisis.

1902 – France – Prime Minister, Emile Combes, engages in the anticlerical struggle.

May – South Africa – The Boers sign the Peace of Vereeniging (Pretoria) with the British.

1903 – Entry into USA, Low Countries, South Africa, Ireland.General chapter – 8 provinces

1903 – 20 July: death of Leo XIII. 4 August: succession of Pius X

1904 – Beginning of the construction of the Panama Canal, completed in 1914

1904 – France – Rupture of diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

1904 – Entry into Chile. Foundation of San Remo.

15 November – Marie de la Passion dies.

1905 – China – in January, Sun Yat-Sen founds the Kuomintang.

In December - France – Law of Separation of Church and State

1905 – 7 April – Assunta dies May – General Chapter - M. M. de la Rédemption elected as Superior General

1906 – France – the Holy See condemns the Law of Separation of Church and State with the encyclical "Vehementer nos". Many Catholics follow the newspaper "L'Action Française".

1907 – Encyclical "Pascendi" against Modernism "a meeting of all the heresies".

1907 – Entry into Russia at St. Petersburg.

1908 – Entry into Angola.

1909 – Foundation of Bethlehem – Holy Land

1910 – Portugal – violent revolution - Proclamation of the Republic – Suppression of religious life.

1910 – France – Condemnation of "The Furrow" of Marc Sangnier.

1910 – Entry into French Congo (Boundji).

Portugal: suppression of religious life.

1911 – Portugal – Separation of Church and State. 1911 – Entry into Syria, Peru, Argentina, Malta.

December – General Congregation. 11 provinces

1912-1913 – Balkan Wars: Bulgars, Serbs, Greeks against the Russians.

1913 – France: Beginnings of the J.O.C. - Young Catholic Workers (Y.C.W.)

1912 – Entry into the Philippines and Morocco.

1914 August – Europe – Entry into war: Germany and Austria-Hungary (Central Powers), Turkey, against Russia, France, Belgium, England, to which Japan joined, then Italy (1915).

1914 20 August – Death of Pius X1914 3 September – succession of Benedict XV

1914 – Engagement of FMM in ambulances, hospitals and accompaniment of military trains in France, Italy, Austria, Hungary; various forms of assistance to children, young girls, female victims of the war.

1917 April – United States declares war against the central Empires.

November – Russian Revolution. Russia withdraws from the war. The central empires concentrate their forces against western Europe.

1917 – Promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law. 1917 – 21 April – M. M. de la Rédemption dies.

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11 November 1918 – Armistice signed by Germany. 1918 - 20 April – M. M. Madeleine de Pazzi named Superior General. 12 provinces

1919 June – Treaty of Versailles

December: Bolshevik troops occupy the Ukraine, which will be integrated into the U.S.S.R. in 1920.

1919 - Benedict XV – Encyclical "Maximum illud" on the Mission as superior to all nationalism, and for the formation of local clergy.

1920 – Creation of the League of Nations.

Italy: birth of Fascism (National Socialism); from 1922, government of Mussolini which will survive for 20 years.

Soviet Republic of Belarus.

1920 16 July – Resignation of M. M. Madeleine de Pazzi.December – General chapter – Election of M. M. de St Michel. Entry into Algeria

1921 – China: Sun Yat Sen elected President of the Republic.

Creation of the Free State of Southern Ireland. – Birth of the Legion of Mary.

1921 – France – Re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

1922 – Proclamation of the USSR: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Transcaucasus.

February 1922 – Death of Benedict XV – Election of Pius XI.France: Birth of the J.O.C. - Young Catholic Workers (Y.C.W.)

1922 – Approbation of the FMM Oblates.Foundation of Łabunie in Poland.Russia: departure of the last FMM sisters.

1923 – Turkey becomes a Republic. Mustafa Kemal creates a lay State.

1923 – Appointment of the first Indian bishop. 1923 – Foundation of Nantes (N. D. du Fort).

1924 – Russia: death of Lenin and power taken by Stalin.

1925 – Holy Year. - At the Vatican, Missionary Exposition which put the accent on intellectual and scientific activity in mission countries.

1925 – Entry into Libya and Brazil.

1926-1929 – Mexico – Civil War and religious persecution.

1926 – Pius XI – Encyclical "Rerum Ecclesiæ": 'The Church and mission are above politics’.

Institution of Mission Sunday.

1926 – General Congregation. 16 provinces

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Consecration of six first Chinese bishops.

1927 – China – grave trouble in several regions of the country.

1927 – Resignation of the first Japanese bishop, Nagasaki.

1928 – Concordat with France.Birth of the J.A.C. (Young Catholic Agriculturalists)

Encyclical "Mortalium animos" forbidding Catholics to participate in ecumenical movements.

1928 – Authorisation of automatic exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.Entry into Yugoslavia and Germany.

1929 – Wall Street crash – beginning of world economic crisis.

1929 Février – Lateran Concordat and Treaty between the Church and Italy.

1930 – Ho Chi Minh founds the Indochinese Communist Party.

1930 – Birth of the J.E.C. (Young Catholic Students - YCS)

1930 Foundation in the Vatican City.

April 1931 – Spain – Proclamation of the 2nd Republic; then military putsch which starts the Civil War; government of Franco at Burgos.

1931 – Encyclical "Non abbiamo bisogno", protesting against the totalitarianism of the State.

Encyclical "Quadragesimo anno" broadening the

perspectives of Rerum novarum (1891).

1931 – Death of M. M. de St Michel. Entry into Guiana and the Faroe Islands.

1931-1939: Spain: 10 years of dispersal and suffering.

1932 – General Chapter – M. M. Marguerite du S.C. elected Superior General.

1933 January – Germany – Hitler becomes Chancellor and obtains full powers. In July, the creation of the Dachau camp.

1933 – Germany – Hitler signs a General Concordat with the Holy See.

Nomination of the first Vietnamese bishop.

1933 – Entry into Indonesia

1935 September – Germany – Promulgation of anti-Semitic laws. Rearmament.

October – Constitution of Italian East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia).

1935 – Entry into Iceland.

1936 February – Spain – the Popular Front (Frente) wins the elections – Franco is at the head of the Nationalists – the Civil War intensifies.

Creation of the Axis: Rome – Berlin and Anti-

1936 – Entry into Liberia.

Reunion of Novice Mistresses at Rome and Assisi.

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Comintern Pact between Germany and Japan.

1937 – Italy adheres to the Anti-Comintern Pact.

Far-East – Japan undertakes the conquest of China (Peking, North-East, ports, Yangtse Kiang, Nanking, Hankow). Resistance of Chiang Kai-shek.

1937 – Encyclical "Mit brennender Sorge" against Nazism; encyclical "Divini Redemptoris" against Communist Atheism.

September – Recognition granted by the Vatican to the Spanish Nationalist Government.

1938 March – Anschluss : Austria is invaded by Germany.1938-1939 – Frontier confrontation between Japan and Russia in Mongolia and Manchuria.

1938 April – Three Oblates killed at Changlo (China)

October – General Congregation.

Entry into Lebanon

1939 1 September – German aggression against Poland; annexation of eastern Poland by Germany.

3 September – United Kingdom and France declare war against Germany.

1939 February – Death of Pius XI.March – Election of Pius XIIConsecration of first African bishops.

In the world, 48 mission territories are confided to national bishops.

1939 – Entry into Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Ghana, Upper-Volta (Burkina Faso).

1940 May – Blitzkrieg (lightning war) on French territory; the French capital is occupied (northern part and Atlantic coasts).

1941 – Entry into Australia and Uruguay.

1941 April-May – German victory in the Balkans: Yugoslavia and Greece.

Germany supports Italy in Libya.

June – Germany attacks U.S.S.R.: siege of Leningrad, battle of Moscow.

December – Japanese intervention in the Pacific: American disaster of Pearl Harbor which causes U.S.A. to enter into the war against the Axis.

1941 – Auschwitz: Death of St Maximilien Kolbe.

Low Countries – The bishops forbid Catholics to participate in the Nazi Movement.

Germany – Cardinal Von Galen condemns euthanasia of the disabled and the mentally deficient.

France – Foundation of the seminary of the Mission of France.

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1942 – South-East Asia comes under Japanese control: Singapore, Philippines, Dutch East Indies, Burma, Guam, Hong Kong; India and Australia are threatened. In June: Japanese disaster at Midway.

August – American landing at the Solomon Islands occupied by Japan.

October – German defeat at El Alamein (Libya)

November – The whole of France is occupied by the Germans. – Allied landing at Morocco and Algeria.

1942 – Low Countries, France – Protests and marches of Catholics and Protestants against the deportation of Jews.

France – Bishops and Catholic movements are divided between established power and Christian conscience. Christians and priests affirm their autonomy in their political choices.

1943 – German retreat from Russia and the ruin of Hamburg by Allied bombardments.

July – Italy – Allied landing in Sicily then at Anzio – Fall of Mussolini – Italy withdraws from the war.

1943 – Encyclical "Divino afflante Spiritu", offers Catholics a greater freedom in the study of Sacred Scripture.

1943 17 April – Algiers – Fifteen FMM Sisters killed in a bombardment.

1944 – June – Italy – The Allies enter Rome. – Allied landing in Normandy.

American victory over the Japanese in the Marianna Islands.

25 August – The Allies take Paris.

October – Liberation of Belgrade.

End of the Japanese fleet in the Philippines.

1944 – France – First worker priests.

1945 February – Conference of Yalta (Ukraine) – Americans enter Manila.

7-8 May – Capitulation of Germany.April-June– Foundation of United Nations.August – Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Capitulation of Japan.Independence of Indonesia and The Philippines

1945 – Baltic countries (Lithuania), Ukraine: resistance to sovietisation persecutions.

World expansion of the Legion of Mary.

1945 January – Budapest – Eight FMM Sisters killed in a bombardment, others wounded.

April – M. M. Gabrielis gives her life at Katscher (Germany).

Vatican Mission of assistance and spiritual accompaniment in the deportee camps in Germany, Austria, Poland: 13 FMM Sisters participate.

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1946 December – Vietnam: taking of Hanoi by French Army, beginning of Indochina War.

1946 - Beatification of the Martyrs de Tai Yuan Fu.

1947 – Marshall Plan of aid to Europe: accepted in the West; refused by Russia, as leading to popular democracies.

15 August – Independence of India in 2 States: Union of India and Pakistan.

China: Civil War between Kuomintang and Communists.

Japan: new Constitution, parliamentary rule, renunciation of war, agrarian reform.

1947 - France – Pastoral Letter "Essor ou déclin de l'Eglise" of Cardinal Suhard, underlining the need of renewal of the pastoral face for the de-Christianised milieux, in liturgy, catechesis, the parish community.

1947 – 27 October: at Baramulla (Kashmir) M. M. Teresalina gives her life for her sisters.

Entry into La Réunion.

. 1948 –Independence of Burma and Sri Lanka30 January: assassination of Gandhi.May – proclamation of the State of Israel.10 December – the U.N.O. adopts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Argentina – populist government of General Perón.

1948 – Amsterdam – Foundation of the Ecumenical Council of Churches (ECC).

1948 – Entry into Senegal.

1949 – April – Signing of the Atlantic Pact: NATO.

1 October – Proclamation of the Popular Republic of China – Policy of "reconstruction".

1949 – Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia – Trials of Cardinals Mindzenty, Wyszynski, Béran, Stepinac.

China – the Triple Autonomy demands Christians to cut themselves off from the Holy See persecutions and the beginning of the expulsion of foreign missionaries.

1949-1953: China, expulsion of all foreign missionaries.

1950 – June – Beginning of the Korean War opposing South and North.

1950 – August – Encyclical "Humani Generis" on certain opinions contrary to Catholic doctrine: new theology, relations between Christians, nature and supernature, history and dogma…

1 November – Definition of the Dogma of the Assumption.Hungary – Dissolution of religious life.

1950 – General Chapter. M. M. Marguerite du S.C. is re-elected superior General.

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1951 – Peace Treaty between Japan and USA. 1951 – China-Shanghai – Arrest and death follows the torture of Fr .Bede Tsang SJ.

1952 – Egypt – Coup d'état puts an end to the monarchy – Nasser in power.

1952 – Entry into Colombia.

1953 – March – Death of StalinJuly – Armistice in Korea.

Military regime in Colombia.

1953 – Concordat between Spain and the Holy See. 1953 – Entry into Singapore and Mexico.

1954 – July – Geneva Accords on Indochina: independence of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. In Vietnam, taking of power by the Communists.

November – Algeria –Beginning of the wars of independence.

Paraguay – Military regime of General Stroessner.

1954 – France – Re-organisation of the Seminary of the Mission of France – Creation of the Worker Mission.

1954 – Entry into Malaysia and Formosa (Taiwan).

7 November – Beatification of S. M. Assunta.

1955 – 17-24 April, Afro-Asian Conference of Bandung (Indonesia) on de-colonisation and development, with the origin of the movement of non-aligned countries.

1955 – The bishops of Cameroon affirm it legitimate to claim independence.

The bishops of Congo and of Rwanda-Burundi affirm it legitimate to claim independence.

Assisi – 1st International Congress of Pastoral Liturgy.

Hungary – Cardinal Mindzenty takes refuge for 15 years in the USA Embassy at Budapest.

1956 – March – Independence of Morocco and Tunisia.

31 October – Franco-British expedition to Suez.

Hungary – October, failure of insurrectional movement for liberation from the Soviet yoke – Soviet troops occupy Budapest.

1956: Egypt, nationalisation – the FMM leave the sugar refineries.

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1957 – Signing of the Treaty of Rome founding the EEC or Common Market.

Independence of Ghana.

Colombia – return to civil regime.

China frees herself from USSR – regime of ‘One Hundred Flowers’.

1957 – Encyclical "Fidei Donum": all the bishops of the universal Church bear the responsibility of evangelisation.

1957 – General Congregation.

1958 May – China – Mao Tse-tung launches the "Great leap forward".

13 May - Algeria – Insurrection of Algiers.

1958 9 October – Death of Pius XII28 October – Election of John XXIII.

1958 – Entry into Korea.

1959 January – Cuba - Fidel Castro seizes power. 1959 25 January – John XXIII convokes the Council. 1959 – Entry into Paraguay.

1960 – Creation of OPEC at Baghdad between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Venezuela

1960 – Creation of the Secretariat for Christian Unity – Cardinal Bea, 1st President.

1960 – General Chapter – M. M. de Ste Agnès elected Superior General. Unification of degrees in the Institute (Mothers, Sisters) and integration of the Oblates. 25 provinces

1961 August – Construction of the Berlin Wall.Belgrade – 2nd Conference of non-aligned countries.

Cuba becomes a popular democracy.

Great year of African independence: Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Republic of Congo, Congo-Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo, 1997)

1961 15 May – Encyclical "Mater et magistra" on the social question – asking for a world solidarity so as to reduce inequalities.

11 October – 8 December – 1st Session of the Second Vatican Council – 2400 Council Fathers, observers.

20 October – Message of the Council to humanity

1961 – Entry into Togo.

April – at Grotta, Reunion of Novice-Mistresses.

1961-1964 – In Zaire, revolt of the Simbas – Massacres of Christians. November 1964, S. San Marciano et S. Margarita di Cortona are killed at Stanleyville (Kisangani).

1962 March – Cease-fire accord in Algeria – July – Independence of Algeria.

Burma – Institution of military regime: "Burmese way of socialism", reduction of liberties, economic ruin. (Burma named Myanmar, 1989)

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1963 May - Creation of the Organisation of African, Unity: OAU.

1963 11 April – Encyclical "Pacem in terris" for respect of peace between the nations.

3 June – Death of John XXIII.21 June – Election of Paul VI who announces his intention to continue the Council.

29 September – 7 December – 2nd Session of the Council.4 December – Constitution on the Liturgy and Decree on the Means of social Communication.

1963 – Entry into the Island of Mauritius.

1964 – Cairo – 3rd Conference of non-aligned countries.

Chile – Reforms of Christian Democrats (Frei) – Beginning of the Agrarian Reform realized in great part before 1973.

Brazil – Military coup d'état.

Middle East – creation of PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation).

1964 January – Voyage of Paul VI in Holy Land where he meets Patriarch Athenagoras.

6 August – Encyclical "Ecclesiam suam" on the Church.

14 September – 21 November – 3rd Session of the Council.21 November – "Lumen Gentium", "Unitatis Redintegratio", "Orientalium Ecclesiarum".

1964 – Entry into Pakistan.

1965 February – President Johnson decides for intensive bombardment in North Vietnam.

1965 3 September – Encyclical "Mysterium Fidei" on the Eucharist.

14 September – 8 December – 4th Session of the Council. 15 September – Institution of the Synod of Bishops.October – Paul VI at UNO.

From 28 October to 7 December – Promulgation of the other Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations of the Council. The excommunications of 1054 are lifted in a common accord by Paul VI and Athenagoras.

Support returns for the Worker Priests

Creation of the Secretariat for non-Christian Religions.

1965 –Entry into Niger and Papua New Guinea.

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1966 January – India – Prime Minister: Indira Gandhi

May – China – Cultural Revolution.

1966 – Paul VI meets with the Archbishop of Canterbury.

1966 – Special General Chapter – Promulgation of the New Customs. 30 provinces1966 August – Expulsion of foreign FMM from the Convent of the Sacred Heart at Peking.

1967 June – Middle East – 6 Day War opposing Israel against Jordan, Syria, Egypt; Israel occupies the Transjordan, Sinai, Golan Heights.

1967 26 March – Encyclical "Populorum Progressio" on the integral development of peoples.

June – Encyclical "Sacerdotalis Cælibatus" on priestly celibacy.

October – 1st Synod of Bishops.

Creation of the Pontifical Commission "Justice and Peace".

1967 – at Grotta, meetings of the Mistresses of Novices and of the Juniorate Mistresses.

Syria – Nationalisation of schools

1968 – France – Students’ social protest 1968 July – Encyclical "Humanæ Vitæ" on the regulation of birth.

Latin America – Birth of Liberation Theology – Voyage of Paul VI in Latin America.

Conference of CELAM at Medellin.

1969 September – Libya – Ghadaffi in power.

Peru – Launching of agrarian reform.

1969 – Voyages of Paul VI to Geneva and Uganda. 1969-1970 – Meetings of the Regional Assemblies.Libya: Revolution, the FMM leave Tripoli.

1970 December – Poland – Riots of workers at the Baltic shipyards.

Lusaka – 4th Conference of the non-aligned countries.

1970 – Voyage of Paul VI in the Middle East.

Re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and the Holy See.

1970 – June-August: Enlarged General Council. – Evaluation of putting into practice the New Customs.

1971 – Lebanon – 1st camps for Palestinian forces and refugees

The years 1973-1979 mark a cessation of hostilities.

1971 29 June – Encyclical "Evangelica Testi-ficatio" on the renewal of religious life.

Hungary – Ruling on the question of Cardinal Mindzenty

1971 – October-November – at Grotta, International Franciscan Session.

1972 – Mgr Lefebvre undertakes the critique of Vatican II and of the authority of the Pope.

1972 28 January – Death of M. M. de Ste Agnès.

25 September 72-3 March 73 – General Chapter. – S. Alma Dufault is elected Superior General. The Chapter Document prepares for the new Cst.

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1973 January – Vietnam – Paris Accords put an end to the war.

September – Chile – Coup d'état and the assassination of Salvador Allende.

October – Middle East – War of Yom Kippur set off against Israel by Syria and Egypt. The latter two finish militarily annihilated.

Algiers – 5th Conference of the non-aligned (86 countries!)

Argentina – After a military regime, return of Perón.

Uruguay – After guerrilla warfare of Tupamaros, coup d'état and a military regime.

1973 – Entry into Guadeloupe Return to Yugoslavia.

1974 April – Portugal – "Carnation Revolution", coup d'état by the military favourable to decolonisation and democracy

1974-75 – Jubilee Year of Reconciliation.

1974 – Launching of Youth Movement by Taizé.

Synod of Bishops on evangelisation of the contemporary world.

1974 – Entry into Surinam and Jordan.

1975 – Independence of Angola and Mozambique, where the movements of Marxist inspiration take power. (MPLA et FRELIMO).

March-May – Final offensive until the capture of Saigon by the troops of North Vietnam.

November - Spain – Death of Franco – Succession of Juan Carlos I.China – Chou En-lai becomes Prime Minister; introduces policy of modernisation.

Lebanon – Massacres of Christians and Moslems.

1975 8 December – Encyclical "Evangelii nuntiandi" on evangelisation of the contemporary world.

1975 – September: Meeting of young FMM at Grotta.

1975-1976 – Vietnam: foreign missionaries must withdraw.

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1976 – Lebanon – Intervention of Syrians against the Palestinians. – Entry of Syrian troops in order to aid the Lebanese Front.

July – Vietnam, reunification of North and South. Proclamation of theSocialist Republic of Vietnam9 September – China – Death of Mao Tse-tung, rapidly followed by "demonization".

Zaire – attempted invasions of Shaba.

1976 – Suspension of Mgr Marcel Lefebvre. 1976 – Enlarged General Council. – Evaluation of experiences after the 1972-1973 Chapter.

Meetings of Provincials and of formators.

1977 July – Vietnam – Friendship Treaty with Laos – Breakdown of relations with Cambodia.

Pakistan – Military dictatorship and koranic law.

Ethiopia – Fight against the nationalist rebellion in Eritrea sustained by Somalia.

1977 – Synod of Bishops on Catechesis. 1977 – Centenary of the foundation of the Institute. Entry into Bolivia.

8 October: Death of M. Marguerite du S.C.

1978 March – Lebanon – Entry of Israelis in the South – Interposition of the INIFIL.

China – Institution of a new Constitution.

1978 6 August – Death of Paul VI26 August – Election of John Paul I28 September – Death of John Paul I.17 October - Election of John Paul II.

1978-79 – General Chapter. S. Alma Dufault is re-elected Superior General. The chapter elaborates and approves the New Constitutions.

1979 March – Israeli-Egyptian Peace. Subsequently, a coming closer between the Syrians and OLP on the one hand, Isreal and the Lebanese Front on the other.

China – Springtime in Peking. Opening to foreign capital. Beginning of the privatisation of agriculture. Offensive in North Vietnam.

Nicaragua – Sandinista regime overturns the Somoza dictatorship.

1979 January – CELAM Assembly at Puebla (Mexico) with the participation of John Paul II.

4 March – Encyclical "Redemptor hominis".Apostolic Voyages: Poland, Ireland, USA, Turke

1979 – 19 January: Introduction of the Cause of Marie de la Passion4 April: Approbation of the new Constitutions by SCEP

Beginning of the sessions La Sorgente and Emmaus.

1980-82 – Years of new tensions.

1980 August – Poland – Gdansk Accords between Solidarity and the Polish government.

Peru – After the military regime and 2 coups d’état, liberalisation and the election of a civil president.

1980 – Apostolic Voyages: Africa (Zaire, Congo, Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast), France, Brazil, Germany.

September – Synod of Bishops on the family.30 November – Encyclical "Dives in misericordia" on the mercy of God.

1980 – January: Session for Formators.

February-March: new Provincials

July: Centenary of Les Châtelets

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1981 June – USA – 1st newspaper article stating the appearance of AIDS.

Sri Lanka – Beginning of the war driven by the Tamil ‘Tigers’.

Poland – Proclamation of the state of war by Jaruzelski.

1981 – Apostolic Voyages: Middle East, (Pakistan, Japan, Philippines, Guam), Alaska.

13 May – Attack at Rome against John Paul II.14 September – Encyclical "Laborem exercens" on the Christian sense of work.

1981 – Entry into Nicaragua.

1982 – Lebanon – January: Israeli invasion; August: Palestinian forces leave Beirut; September: massacres of Chabra and Chatila.

Bolivie – After the military regime and guerrilla war (Che Guevara), liberalisation and election of a civil president.

Brazil – Supervised elections.

1982 – Apostolic Voyages: Africa (Nigeria, Gabon, Benin, Equatorial Guinea), Argentina, Geneva, Spain.

May – Creation Pontifical Council for Culture.

1982 – Enlarged General Council. – Reflection on the life of the Institute today; message: "contemplation, call of the poor, universality

Return to Ethiopia.

Centenary of the Convent of St. Helen, Rome.

June: Franciscan month at Grotta

Centenary of the entry of the Institute into the Franciscan Third Order.

1983 January – Promulgation of the New Code of Canon Law. April: promulgation of the new Rule of TOROctober – Synod of Bishops on reconciliation and penance.Apostolic Voyages: Central America, Haiti, Poland, Lourdes, Austria.

1983 - November: meeting of new provincials.

December: Community at Cacolo (Angola) kidnapped.

49 provinces

1984 – China – Suppression of popular communes; autorisation of private industrial entreprises.

India – Assassination of Indira Gandhi by Punjab Sikhs.

Lebanon – 1984-88 – Confrontations between militias.

1984 – Jubilee Year of the Redemption.February-March – Pontifical documents on the Christian sense of suffering and on religious consecration in the light of the Redemption.

Apostolic Voyages: Far East (Korea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Thailand), Switzerland, Canada, Santo Domingo, Porto Rico.

CELAM Assembly at Santo Domingo

1984 – Entry into KenyaGeneral Chapter – S. Maura O'Connor elected Superior General. "Let us Continue our Journey" in the service of evangelisation, in listening to the poorest and the challenges of the world of today. –

Juridical precisions to the Constitutions

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1985 – Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, 20 years after the Council.

1985 – Entry into Mauritania.March: Kidnapping and death of Sr. Maria de Oliveira in Angola.

September: Reunion of Novice Mistresses.

Definitive Approbation by SCEP of the newly revised Constitutions.

1986 – Apostolic Voyages: India, Colombia, Singapore, Australia.

May – Encyclical on the Holy Spirit..October – Assisi: meeting of the representatives of religions in communal prayer for peace.

1987 December – Israel-Palestine: beginning of the Intifada

1987 – Apostolic Voyages: Uruguay, Argentina, Chile.

Encyclical "Redemptoris Mater"October – Synod of Bishops on the Laity.

1987 – Entry into Equador.

1988 November – The Palestinian Council declares itself ready to negotiate with Israel.

1988 – Apostolic Voyages: Bolivia, Peru, Austria, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, France.

Apostolic Letter "Mulieris dignitatem"Apostolic Exhortation "Christifideles laici"June – Schism of the group of Mgr Lefebvre.

1988 – Enlarged General Council: a road of co-responsibility

1989 – Lebanon – Taif Accords.June – China – Repression of Student Demonstrations (Tianenmen Square, Beijing)

Poland – Solidarity wins the elections.

23 October – Free Republic of Hungary.

9 November – Fall of the Berlin Wall.

1989 – Apostolic Voyages: Madagascar, La Réunion, Island of Mauritius, Zambia, Malawi, Scandinavia, Spain, Korea, Indonesia.

1989 – Celebration of 150 years of the birth of Marie de la PassionJuly – Tragic death of Sr. Emmanuela Vassalo in Libya.

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1990 February – South Africa: Nelson Mandela freed from prison by De Klerk.

Grave troubles in Liberia.

3 October – Reunification of Germany.

December – Lech Walesa, President of Poland.

1990 – In Hungary and Czechoslovakia, official recognition of religious life.

Apostolic Voyages: Africa (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ivory Coast), Czechoslovakia, Mexico, Malta.

1990 – General chapter: Sr. Maura O'Connor re-elected superior General. – Chapter Document: "The Eucharist – source of a new impetus".

Transfer of the Institute to the jurisdiction of CIVCSVA – (Congregation – Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life).

1991 January-April – Gulf War.May – Treaty between Syria and Lebanon.June – South Africa – Abrogation of Apartheid.Independence of Slovenia and Croatia – Beginning of the war in Yugoslavia.

December – USSR ceases to exist in as much as a State, 11 Republics form the CIS.Internet is opened to the greater public.

1991 January – Encyclicals "Redemptoris Missio" and "Centesimus annus" (society and economy)

Apostolic Voyages: Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Brazil.

1991 – Entry into Ukraine.

Creation of the Bureaus: JPIC, Initial Formation, History of the Institute.

Europe : Continental Meeting

Meeting of Mistresses of Novices

1992 – 500 years since the ‘discovery’ of America.

June 1992 – Rio de Janeiro: United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. August – Accord on free trade between USA, Canada, Mexico.

Massacres in Yugoslavia.

1992 – Apostolic Voyages: Angola, São Tomé e Príncipe, Santo Domingo.

November – Anglican Church recognizes the ordination of women.

1992 – Meeting of new Provincials and Reunion of Provincials to launch Pastoral Planning for the provinces.

Asia Australia: Continental Meeting

Meeting of Sisters responsible for Young Religious.

1993 October – Mutual Recognition between Israel and PLO (Rabin and Arafat). 1993 – Apostolic Voyages: Benin, Uganda, Sudan,

Albania, Spain, Jamaica, USA, Baltic countries.

Encyclical "Veritatis Splendor"

1993 – Return to Russia (St. Petersburg).

Africa Madagascar – the Americas: Continental Meetings.

Meeting "Awakening and Accompanying Vocations".

1994 – April – Genocide in RwandaJune – Nelson Mandela elected President in South Africa.

1994 Apostolic Letter "Tertio Millenio adveniente"Apostolic Voyages: Croatia.

Document of the CRIS: "Fraternal Life in Community".October – Synod of Bishops on Religious Life.

1994 – EGC "Planning for Mission"

March – Formation of the province of Taiwan

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1995 4 November – Assassination of Rabin.

December – Bosnia: Dayton Peace Accords. 1995 – March – Encyclical "Evangelium vitæ"May – Encyclical "Ut unum sint".Apostolic Voyages – Philippines, PNG, Australia, Sri Lanka, Czech Republic, Poland, Belgium, Cameroon, South Africa, Kenya, USA.

1995 – Meeting of new Provincials

52 provinces – 2 missions

1996 January – PLO - Arafat elected President of the Palestinian Authority.

February – Algeria, beginning of a wave of attacks.

March-April – Palestinian/Israeli violence.

June – Ethnic massacres in Burundi.

1996 – Apostolic Voyages: Guatemala, Nicaragua, San Salvador, Venezuela, Tunisia, Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, France.

March – Publication of "Vita consecrata"May – Algeria – Assassination of the monks of Tibirhine.

August – Algeria – Assassination de Mgr Pierre Claverie.

1996 – General Chapter – S. Christiane Mégarbané elected Superior General. "Universal Mission, an adventure in communion at the service of life and hope."

Withdrawal from Papua New Guinea.

1997 1 July – Retrocession of Hong Kong to China. 1997 – Apostolic Voyages: Bosnia, Czech Republic, Lebanon, Poland, France (August, JMJ at Paris), Brazil.

1998 – Apostolic Voyages: Cuba, Nigeria, Austria, Croatia.

May – Apostolic Letter "Dies Domini".October – Encyclical "Fides et Ratio".

1999 – March-June – War of Kosovo.

Retrocession of Macao to China.

1999 – Apostolic Voyages: Mexico, USA, Rumania, Poland, Slovenia, India, Georgia.

1999 – Enlarged General Council.Insertion ad experimentum in Bosnia

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