Timeline of Pope John Paul II's battle for life

• 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.