[St.Chuck]

I remember the papacy of Pius XII, and while I recall that he was enormously respected, I don't remember so much personal adulation, or even that he was personally visible that much.

He wasn't visible. During his nineteen year pontificate he left the Vatican once. John XXIII, in making a trip to Assisi was the first pope since 1870 to actually make a trip. Paul VI was the first pope since the eighteenth century to travel outside of Italy.

[livius]

Thanks for the information.