Barbara McMahon in Rome
Monday September 19, 2005
The Guardian

A detailed account of the final hours of Pope John Paul II, revealing his symptoms, his last words and the medical and spiritual care he received as he lay dying, has been released by the Vatican.

It is the first time a meticulous narrative of a pontiff's demise has been published and is believed to be an attempt by the Holy See to ward off speculation about the death of the man who is on a fast track to sainthood. It also clears up conflicting versions of John Paul II's final words.

According to the Vatican, the 84-year-old's last utterance, mumbled weakly in Polish, was: "Let me go to the house of the Father." He lapsed into a coma and died six hours later.

The report published by the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the Vatican's official journal, goes into chronological detail about John Paul II's decline, starting on January 21, when it was announced that his audiences were being suspended because he had flu.

It charts two stays in hospital, including one where he had surgery to insert a tube into his throat to counter breathing problems caused by the progression of Parkinson's disease. According to the document, John Paul II's convalescence was hampered by "very difficult swallowing, laborious attempts to speak, nutritional deficit and marked weakness".

The public saw him for the last time on March 30 at the window of his Vatican apartment when he tried in vain to speak a few words to the crowds who had gathered outside. The next day his health took a turn for the worse during a mass in his private chapel.

"He was hit by a shaking chill and a sharp rise in temperature to 39.6C [103F]," the account said. "Very grave septic shock set in, with cardio-circulatory collapse, due to an infection of the urinary tract."

In accordance with the pope's wishes not to be moved to hospital, he remained in bed in his apartment and on April 2 at 3.30pm he whispered his final words to a nun who was looking after him. According to Polish tradition, a small candle was burning in the room and prayers were being said. At 7pm he lapsed into a coma and died at 9.37pm.

The pope's personal physician, Renato Buzzonetti, declared the pontiff dead after running an electrocardiogram for more than 20 minutes. The announcement was made public immediately afterwards.

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