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| 1971 |
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| With the dissolution of the Vatican gendarmerie and the previous disbanding in 1968 of the Noble Guard and Palatine Guard of Honor, the Swiss Guard became the sole guarantors of internal security and public order in Vatican City, though Italian police continued to patrol St. Peter's Square. | 1 |
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| 1973, Dec |
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| Pope Paul VI offered to collaborate on a solution to the Middle East problem. Arab and African leaders visited the Holy See to put forward their views on the future of Jerusalem and the holy places. | 2 |
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| 1978, Aug. 6 |
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| Death of Pope Paul VI. His successor, Albino Luciani (John Paul I), was elected on Aug. 26 and reigned only briefly, until his unexpected death on Sept. 28. | 3 |
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| Oct. 16 |
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| Karol Cardinal Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) of Kraków became the first non-Italian pope in 450 years. During his pontificate, he would travel more extensively than any of his predecessors, preaching to millions of people on six continents and in more than fifty nations. | 4 |
| Pope John Paul II's pontificate was shaped by two goals: a commitment to justice and peace, and a desire to affirm the unambiguous identity of Roman Catholicism since Vatican II. In implementing this second goal, he did not hesitate to use the Church's strong disciplinary rules against those who disagreed with him. | 5 |
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