ROME, March 13 (AFP) - Pope John Paul II, once a keen sportsman whose passions included skiing, kayaking, cycling and hiking, was set on Sunday to end a second stay in hospital since early February following surgery for breathing difficulties.
The 84-year-old pontiff has a long history of health problems and has notably been suffering from Parkinson`s disease for more than a decade.
Here are some of the main points of his declining health since he became pope in 1978:
-- May 13, 1981: The pope nearly dies in an assassination attempt when Ali Agca, a right-wing Turkish fanatic, shoots him at close range in St Peter`s Square. One bullet goes through his abdomen and another just misses his heart. He survives after extensive intestinal surgery, but his health is affected thereafter.
-- July 1992: He is operated on for a benign intestinal tumor. Surgeons say the tumor is the size of an orange, and cut out 20 centimeters (eight inches) of intestine.
-- November 1993: He is hospitalised after fracturing his shoulder in a fall following a Vatican audience.
-- April 1994: He breaks a thigh bone slipping in the bathroom, and henceforth appears increasingly frail. Walking sometimes appears difficult for him, and he displays increasing signs of Parkinson`s disease -- notably the trembling of his left hand and a rigid expression on his face.
-- Christmas Day 1995: He suddenly interrupts his traditional blessing broadcast live worldwide from Saint Peter`s when overcome by nausea.
-- October 1996: He undergoes a successful appendectomy, but there are continued concerns over his state of health.
-- June 1999: He falls at the papal nuncio`s residence in Warsaw, hurting his head. He is given three stitches covered by a plaster on his forehead and three days later cancels a mass for more than a million Catholics due to a fever.
-- February 11, 2003: He cancels an address to pilgrims in St Peter`s Basilica due to slight chill.
-- September 2003: Concern about the pope`s failing health mounts following a gruelling four-day trip to Slovakia during which he appears weak and is unable to complete a speech.
-- August 2004: A frail pope visits Lourdes, France, and stumbles as he kneels to pray before the shrine to the Virgin Mary. He later mutters "help me" to aides as he celebrates an open air mass in the searing August heat.
-- February 1, 2005: He is rushed to Rome`s Gemelli hospital with shortness of breath.
-- February 6, 2005: Looking frail but alert the pope makes a 10-minute appearance at his hospital window but is unable to give the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer, which is read by an aide, although he was able to perform the ritual blessing in a hoarse, faltering voice that was barely audible.
-- February 10, 2005: He is discharged from hospital and returns to the Vatican aboard the Popemobile.
-- February 24, 2005: He is readmitted to the Gemelli clinic with a recurrence of breathing difficulties and undergoes a tracheotomy.
-- March 13, 2005: He speaks his first words in public since the throat operation, briefly addressing pilgrims for his Sunday Angelus from his hospital window ahead of his release later in the day.
03/13/2005 17:16 GMT