A short chronology of major events in the life and pontificate of Pope John Paul.
May 18th, 1920 -Karol Jozef Wojtyla born in Wadowice, Poland, second son of retired army sergeant and a mother of Lithuanian origin.
1942 -Having lost all immediate family, commences secret studies for priesthood during Nazi occupation.
November 1st, 1946 -Ordained in Krakow. Later completes studies at pontifical universities in Rome and then returns to Poland.
September 28th, 1958 -Consecrated assistant Bishop of Krakow.
Jan 13, 1964 -Named Archbishop of Krakow.
June 26th, 1967 -Created a cardinal by Pope Paul VI.
October 16th, 1978 -Elected the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years. Pontificate begins officially six days later.
June 2nd - 10th, 1979- Returns to his communist-ruled homeland, a trip seen as a factor in the rise of the Solidarity movement.
September 1979 -Visits Ireland for three days, where millions come out to greet him.
May 13th, 1981 -Shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peter's Square. Surgery saves his life.
May 12th, 1982 -Rebel Spanish priest Juan Fernandez Krohn tries to stab Pope in Fatima, Portugal. He is not hurt.
June 8th -14th, 1987 -In his third visit to his homeland, Pope strongly defends the banned Solidarity trade union.
June 25th, 1987 -Receives Austrian President Kurt Waldheim, angering Jews who accuse Waldheim of Nazi war crimes.
December 1st, 1989 -President Mikhail Gorbachev invites Pope to Soviet Union, though he never takes up offer.
April 21st, 1990 -Flies to Czechoslovakia to hail collapse of communism with President Vaclav Havel.
October 18th, 1990 -At synod, Pope rules out married priesthood.
July 15th, 1992 -Intestinal tumour size of orange removed.
October 31st, 1992 -After 359 years, Pope rehabilitates Galileo, condemned by the Church for saying earth turns around the sun.
November 11th, 1992 -Anglican Church's decision to allow women priests brings relations with the Vatican to a new low.
December 7th, 1992 -Issues the Roman Catholic Church's new universal Catechism - the first in nearly five centuries.
December 28th, 1993 -Vatican and Israel forge full diplomatic ties after 2,000 years of Christian-Jewish hostility.
April 28th, 1994 -Slips in bath and breaks right thigh.
October 17th, 1994 -Becomes best-selling author with publication of the book Crossing the Threshold of Faith.
May 17th, 1995 -On the eve of 75th birthday, rules out suggestions he should retire as other bishops do at age 75. Says he will remain in the job for as long as God wants.
December 25th, 1995 -Influenza forces Pope to miss Christmas Mass for first time in his pontificate.
September 9th, 1997 -Frailty keeps Pope from attending funeral of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
October 31st, 1997 -In a major speech, says Christians failed during the Holocaust.
January 1st, 2000 -Opens Holy Door of St Peter's Basilica to usher in Christianity's third millennium.
March 13th, 2000 -Asks pardon for the Church's sins, including against Jews, heretics, women and minorities.
March 20th - 26th, 2000 -Visits Holy Land, calls for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
May 8th, 2001 -Ending visit to Syria, makes history by becoming the first Pope in history to enter a mosque.
November 22nd, 2001 -Apologises to victims of sexual abuse by priests.
April 2002 -Summons US cardinals after scandal there over Church's handling of sexual abuse of children by priests.
August 2002 -Makes last poignant visit to Polish homeland, visiting Krakow, and talking about death.
October 2002 -Marks 24th jubilee by changing the way rosary prayers are said for the first time in nine centuries.
January - March 2003 -Pope at forefront of campaign to avert US invasion of Iraq.
October 19th, 2003 -Beatifies Mother Teresa before a crowd of 300,000, calling her an "icon" of charity.
December 18th, 2004 -Condemns same-sex marriage as an attack on fabric of society.
February 1st, 2005 -Taken to hospital in Rome with acute breathing problems and stays for ten days.
February 24th, 2005 -Rushed to hospital for tracheotomy, opening windpipe to cure acute breathing difficulties.
March 13th, 2005 -Speaks to faithful for the first time since throat surgery and returns to Vatican.
March 20th, 2005 -For the first time in the papacy, Holy Week services begin without the Pontiff.
March 24th, 2005 -Cardinal says Pope "serenely abandoning" himself to God's will".
March 27th, 2005 -Appears at Vatican window on Easter Sunday. Tries to speak but fails to address the faithful.
March 30th, 2005 -Nasal feeding tube inserted.
March 31st, 2005 -Suffers heart attack and develops very high fever from urinary infection. Refuses to return to hospital.
April 1st, 2005 -Church leaders say Pope's death is at hand.
April 2nd, 2005 -Slipping in and out of consciousness.