Two years from now, the Polish-born John Paul II, the first non-Italian pontiff in nearly five centuries, hopes to fulfil one of his most cherished dreams. John Paul II, in the twentieth year of his reign, the longest serving Pope in this century, makes no secret of his desire to lead the Roman Catholic Church into the third millennium. Despite his frailties, the Pope is focused on spiritual celebration of the year 2000 as the crowning achievement of his career. He is inspired by grand designs for the millennium year. On the eve of the new millennium, major plans are in the offing for the commemoration of the 2000th anniversary of Jesus Christ’s birth. The years of 1997, 1998 and 1999 have been especially dedicated to the preparations. The celebration of the actual year 2000 will begin with Christmas 1999.