Photo SpecialPope John Paul II: 1920-2005
Look at the life of the beloved and controversial cleric who led the Vatican for more than 25 years
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Though he had to ride in a bulletproof bubble after the 1981 assassination attempt, the Pope never failed to draw enormous crowds (such as in Toronto in 2002). He thrived on them, even when health troubles – such as Parkinson's disease, which the Vatican never acknowledged – began to wear down his robustness. "He's invigorated by prayer and by crowds, and people respond to that," said Archbishop John P. Foley.
