Populist Pope, strict traditionalist

Suffer the little children: the Pope on his travels

When Karol Wojtyla was elected Pope two decades ago the Catholic world was stunned.

Not one expert had tipped the 58 year old Bishop of Krakow for the top job. Not that he was not respected: his stand against Poland's Communist regime had earned him that. He just was not part of the "in crowd". Above all, he was not Italian.

The Pope kissing the ground in Lithuania - the greeting has become his signature

But the intervening 20 years have seen him become one of the most familiar faces in the world. His Papal odyssey has covered more than 120 countries and he has established himself as an international fighter for freedom.

But, to his critics, John Paul II is the arch-conservative: an autocrat whose pronouncements on abortion, contraception and women's rights have had a devastating effect on millions of lives.

The youngest Pope this century was born near Krakow, Poland, in 1920. As a young man he excelled at sports, including soccer and skiing.

Karol Wojtyla as a student

The Second World War and the Nazi occupation saw Karol Wojtyla working as a labourer. He studied theology from 1942 and was forced into hiding in 1944 following a crackdown on religious teaching.

Continuing his studies after the war, he was ordained a priest in 1946. Rapid promotion followed: by 1964 he was Archbishop of the city, three years later, he was a Cardinal.

1978 was 'The Year of the Three Popes'. Pope Paul died at the age of 80. His successor, elected in a single day, took the name John Paul in memory of his two successors. Thirty-three days later he, too, was dead.

Once again the College of Cardinals conducted the centuries old ritual of a Papal election in the Sistine Chapel: 2 days later, Karol Wojtyla became next successor to St Peter.

New era

Taking the name John Paul II, the new Pontiff signalled a new era in Catholic affairs. He was dynamic and approachable, an instantly recognisable leader for the world's largest Christian community.

Above all, he travelled. On an early trip to Ireland, he appealed to the men of violence to return to the ways of peace. American Catholics saw him reject all calls for a change in moral teaching.

The Pope was struck down by two bullets

But his insistence on getting close to crowds almost led to his death in May 1981. Leaning out of his jeep in St Peter's Square, he was shot and seriously wounded by a Turkish fanatic. After a long recovery, he visited and forgave his would-be assassin.

In 1982 he visited Britain - an historically-charged trip made all the more important as it occurred during the Falklands crisis. Huge crowds attended his every move and the talk was of union between Rome and Canterbury: a union which, because of the issue of women priests, today seems as far away as ever.

The collapse of Communism coincided with increasing demands in the West for a compromise on religious teaching. John Paul has consistently rejected these calls, effectively closing the debate before it has started.

The Pope has looked increasingly frail

He is a complex man. While calling for action to combat world poverty, he insists that contraception is morally unacceptable. He says he wants to improve the status of women while writing that motherhood should be a woman's natural aspiration.

The past have seen radical changes throughout the world: the collapse of Communism (in which he played a not inconsiderable part), increasing Third World debt, AIDS.

Throughout this time, Pope John Paul II has worked to maintain the dignity of mankind against what he sees to be the dangers of modern life.