Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyla is elected pope and takes the name John Paul II

John Paul II makes an emotional and influential return to Poland, the country of his birth

Archbishop Oscar Romero, an exponent of liberation theology, is killed as he celebrates Mass in San Salvador

Christian militiamen massacre Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Chatila camps in Lebanon

Government imposition of Islamic law (sharia) triggers renewed civil war in Sudan between the Muslim north and Christian south

Desmond Tutu is the first black African to be archbishop of Cape Town

A woman is consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts, becoming the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion's historic line of succession from St Peter

In his apostolic letter Ordinatio sacerdotalis John Paul II forbids even any discussion of the ordination of women

Dial House becomes the home of the Bishop of Kensington

John Paul II, dying after 26 years on the papal throne, is the third longest-serving pope in history

Joseph Ratzinger is elected pope and takes the name Benedict XVI

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sign an Ecumenical Declaration in the first such meeting between leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches since their schism in 1054.