Pope John Paul: Pope John Paul II died after a long struggle against crippling infirmity, ending a tumultuous 26-year reign that shaped world politics. The 84-year-old pontiff died at 19.37 GMT, according to a Vatican statement, two days after suffering heart failure brought on by two months of acute breathing problems and other infections. During his pontificate - the third longest in 2,000 years of Christianity - he was a master at reaching the masses through the media.
In Pics: The life of Pope John Paul II