Pope John Paul II set himself a hectic schedule for 2000, but was determined to lead celebrations for the Catholic �Jubilee Year�.

The high point was the traditional Easter message delivered in a solemn open-air ceremony in St Peter's Square.

The following month he celebrated his 80th birthday.

Despite increasing frailty he kept working, making an emotional trip to his native Poland in 2002 and voicing his opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003.

Trip to Poland