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Pope John Paul II, who had ascended to the papacy in 1978, toured the world like a beatific rock star, preaching the gospel of this new sobriety in football stadiums across the country.

In 1991, Pope John Paul II issued “Centesimus Annus,” or “100th Anniversary,” writing about devastating poverty in developing countries along with worldwide economic, cultural and spiritual poverty caused by forces such as “consumerism.”

He took part in two conclaves - August and October 1978, which saw Popes John Paul I and John Paul II elected respectively.

On a roasting summer's day, an estimated 300,000 people gathered in Glasgow's Bellahouston Park for a Papal Mass celebrated by John Paul II.

His replacement was Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who had worked his way up the church's hierarchy before being proclaimed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003.