1940

• 1940: Karol is knocked down by a tram and almost killed. He escapes with a fractured skull. A few months later, he is hit by a lorry in a quarry outside Krakow that leaves him with one shoulder higher than the other and a permanent stoop.

1981

• May 13: Pope shot in abdomen and hand in attack by Turkish gunman in St Peter’s Square. He spends 20 days at Gemelli Polyclinic hospital.

• June 20: Admitted to hospital for infection linked to injuries sustained in attempted assassination more than a month before. Undergoes operation on August 5 and is discharged August 14.

1992

• July 15: Operation for benign tumour on colon.

1993

• November 11: Dislocates right shoulder in fall down steps at Vatican. Undergoes an operation and leaves hospital after an overnight stay.

1994

• April 29: Taken to hospital after breaking leg in a fall in his bathroom. He undergoes a hip replacement surgery. Discharged May 27.

1995

• December 25: Overcome by fever and nausea, interrupts Christmas message in St Peter’s Square and is bedridden with flu.

1996

• March 13: Cancels Mass after Vatican says he is stricken by a similar ailment.

• August 15: Suffers from an intestinal ailment accompanied by fever.

• October 8: Taken to hospital for operation to remove an inflamed appendix.

1997

• February: Cancels general audience because of flu with fever.

1999

• June 15: Flu, with slight fever, keeps him from celebrating Mass in Krakow, Poland, for 1 million people during pilgrimage. Also that year, illness forces pontiff to miss a weekly audience.

2001

• January 3: One of Pope’s physicians confirms he is suffering from Parkinson’s disease, almost 10 years after he begins to show symptoms consistent with the illness.

2003

• September 24: Misses weekly general audience due to an intestinal problem.

2005

• January 31: Vatican announces Pope has “mild” case of flu, forcing cancellation of appearances.

• February 1: Admitted to Rome’s Polyclinic Gemelli hospital with breathing difficulties and an inflamed throat while battling the flu.

• February 24: Undergoes successful tracheotomy operation to ease breathing problems after returning to hospital in Rome having suffered a relapse of his earlier breathing difficulties.

• February 28: Begins physiotherapy to help him breathe and speak following throat surgery.

• March 31: Experiences high fever, septic shock and heart failure after developing a UTI.