For a listing of all his duties.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12260a.htm
He's also supposedly beatified more saints than any other Pope before him. Can't stop the blessing train.
From his CNN bio
"Not only is he the most traveled pope in history -- he speaks eight languages, learning Spanish after he became the pope -- he also has been quick to use the media and technology to his advantage."
"His criticism of such dictators as Alfred Stroessner in Paraguay, Augusto Pinochet in Chile and Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines encouraged opposition movements that eventually brought down those governments."
"But the pope hasn't played favorites, and the West has come in for its share of criticism, too. During that first triumphal visit to the United States, he warned his hosts about the dangers of materialism, selfishness and secularism, and suggested lowering the standard of living and sharing the wealth with the Third World."
"John Paul II embarked on nothing less than a restoration of the church, one grounded in its conservative tradition. His rejection of contraception and abortion has been absolute and unbending, and his almost dictatorial manner has not always played well."
"His inflexibility on issues with international ramifications -- birth control in Africa, for example -- has drawn strong criticism."
So I'm pretty sure the pope does more than just wave.