VATICAN CITY — A timeline of Pope John Paul II's deterioration in the period leading up to his death.
Jan. 31: Vatican reports the pope has a mild case of flu. Appearances are canceled.
Feb. 1: Breathing problems, inflamed upper airway and voice-box spasm with flu-like symptoms force hospitalization. The crisis is a dangerous combination for a man in his 80s with Parkinson's disease. The Vatican statement doesn't say whether the pontiff's illness was confirmed as influenza.
Feb. 4: Vatican says he is improving, eating regular food for the first time
Feb. 6: Pope greets the faithful from his hospital window, giving a brief, barely audible Sunday blessing.
Feb. 9: Pope misses Ash Wednesday public prayers for first time as pontiff, instead marking the occasion with a Mass in his hospital room.
Feb 10: Pope leaves hospital in the popemobile after 10-day stay.
Feb. 13: Pope makes his first appearance since leaving the hospital, briefly addressing a sea of worshippers from his studio in St. Peter's Square.
Feb. 20: Pope appears in good form during his Sunday address at St. Peter's Square, his second appearance since being released from the hospital 10 days before.
Feb. 23: Pope makes a 30-minute appearance via video, his longest public appearance since his hospitalization earlier in the month.
Feb. 24: Pope rushed to hospital again with renewed breathing crisis and fever. Doctors insert a breathing tube in his throat.
Feb. 25: Vatican announces doctors have found no infection in the lungs, quashing rumors of feared pneumonia.
March 13: Pope returns to Vatican with breathing tube in his neck. He speaks briefly to the public in his first live address since the throat surgery.
March 25: For the first time in his 26-year pontificate, the pope is physically absent during Holy Week ceremonies, instead appearing via video at the Good Friday procession, sitting at his chapel in the Vatican with his back to the camera.
March 26: For the first time, a top Vatican cardinal stands in for pope for the Easter Vigil Mass.
March 27: Pope tries but fails to speak to tens of thousands of people gathered for Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square, instead blessing the crowd by making the sign of the cross with his hand.
March 30: Pope appears at his studio window and silently blesses thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square. A Feeding tube is later fitted in his nose to boost his nutritional intake and "help him recover strength," the Vatican says.
March 31, afternoon: Vatican announces pope has high fever as a result of a urinary tract infection. It is unclear when the infection was detected. Vatican says pope is being given antibiotics, but has asked to remain at his apartment.
March 31, evening: Vatican radio reports that the pope's condition appears to have stabilized and that his infection is responding to the antibiotics. Vatican statement says Pope receives the sacrament for the sick and dying, formerly known as the last rites.
April 1, morning: Vatican says the pope suffered septic shock the previous afternoon, after a period of stabilization. The bacteria had spread from his urinary tract to his blood, poisoning his blood stream and causing his blood vessels to collapse. This leads to a dangerous drop in blood pressure and unless corrected, leads to multi-organ failure.
April 1, afternoon: Vatican says the pope is conscious and that he asked an aide to read him the biblical account of Christ's burial.
April 1, evening: Pope's condition worsens. He suffers heart and kidney failure and his breathing becomes shallow.
April 2, morning: Vatican says that at dawn, the pope started showing the first signs of losing consciousness.
April 2, afternoon: Vatican announces that a high fever develops in the morning but that the pope was responsive to aides.
April 2, evening: The sacrament of the sick and dying is administered again, along with Viaticum, or communion received when there is probable death.
April 2, 9:37 p.m.: The pope dies.