1981

• Message for the 14th World Day of Peace (January 1, 1981)

• Address to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See (January 12, 1981)

• Address to the Delegation of the Polish Independent Syndicate Solidarność (January 15, 1981)

• Address to the Roman Curia gathered for the week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 23, 1981)

• Address to the Tribunal of the Roman Rota  (January 24, 1981)

• Address to the members of the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary (January 30, 1981)

• Pastoral Visit to Pakistan, Philippines, Guam (USA), Japan and Anchorage (USA) (16-27 February 1981)

• Message for Lent (March 4, 1981)

• Address to the Pontifical Ecclesiastic Academy (March 23, 1981)

• Apostolic Letter A Concilio Constantinopolitano I (March 25, 1981)

• Chrism Mass (April 16, 1981)

• Message for the 18th World Day for Vocations (1981)

• Motu Proprio Familia A Deo Instituta (May 9, 1981)

• Address for the institution of the Pontifical Council for the Family (May 13, 1981)

• At 5:19 p.m. a young turk Mehmet Alì Agca makes an attempt on the Pope's life while he was circling St. Peter's Square before his General Audience. Severely, wounded, the Pope was operated on for 6 hours at Gemelli hospital. John Paul II recites the Regina Caeli at Gemelli hospital: "Pray for the brother who shot me, whom I have sincerely forgiven". (Regina Caeli, 17 May 1981)

• Message for the 15th World Communications Day (May 15, 1981)

• Message for the World Day for Missions (June 7, 1981)

• Angelus (September 13, 1981)

• Encyclical Letter Laborem Exercens (September 14, 1981)

• Message for the First World Food Day (October 14, 1981)

• Address to the 21st Conference of FAO (November 13, 1981)

• Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (November 22, 1981)