Pope John Paul's last will and testament indicates that in the year 2000 he was tormented over whether he should resign after leading the Roman Catholic Church into the new millennium.
'I hope that He will help me to recognise how long I must continue this service,' the testament reads. John Paul wrote that he would work as long as God continued to give him the strength to do so. 'May the mercy of God give me the necessary strength for this service.'
In the will, written over more than two decades, the Pope also indicates that very early in his pontificate he considered the possibility of a funeral in Poland, but finally decided to leave the decision up to the College of Cardinals.
The 15-page will, read to the Cardinals yesterday and made public today, asks that all his personal notes be burned. The Pope left no personal property.
The document begins 'Be vigilant, because you do not know the day our Lord will come.'
He writes that the Cold War confrontation between East and West ended without nuclear conflict only thanks to God's help.
Find out about the process of electing a new Pope here.
