In pictures: The life of John Paul II

1 of 10 Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla (top right in black coat) in Poland in 1920.

2 of 10 He was forced to study religion in secret during World War II. He became a priest in 1946, Archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and a Cardinal three years later.

3 of 10 He was elected Pope in 1978 aged 58. He was the first non-Italian for 450 years and took the name John Paul II.

4 of 10 In 1981 he was shot and badly injured in St Peter's Square in Rome.

5 of 10 After his recovery he met the Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca and offered him forgiveness.

6 of 10 After the assassination attempt he travelled around in a special vehicle, called the Popemobile which had bulletproof glass.

7 of 10 In September 1995 he met the then South African president Nelson Mandela.

8 of 10 In the last 10 years the Pope has had a number of health problems. In 1998 he travelled to Cuba.

9 of 10 In 2000 the Pope toured famous religious sites around the world, including Mount Nebo, west of Amman, Jordan, where Christians believe Moses first glimpsed the Promised Land.

10 of 10 Even in his later years when the Pope's health was getting worse he still travelled, visiting Poland in 2002.