Pope Benedict XVI Blog

A chronicle of the last words and moments of Pope John Paul II

John Paul II's Last Words

Vatican Publishes the Final "Stations" of His Way of the Cross

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 20, 2005 (ZENIT.org).- Pope John Paul II's last words before his death April 2 were, "Let me go to the house of the Father," says a chronicle published by the Holy See.

The latest edition of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, the official Vatican bulletin, begins with the narration of about four pages in Italian, with an introduction in Latin. The text details the last days of John Paul II.

The chronicle of April 2 begins at 7:30 p.m. with the Mass celebrated in the Holy Father's presence, "who began to experience the beginning of the loss of consciousness."

"At the end of the morning he received the cardinal Secretary of State for the last time and then began a sharp increase in temperature," the document said. "

"Around 3:30 p.m., with a feeble and hoarse voice, in Polish, the Holy Father pleaded, 'Let me go to the house of the Father,'" the text said. A little before 7 p.m. he entered a coma. The monitor documented the progressive exhaustion of his vital functions.

According to a Polish tradition, a small candle lit up the darkness of the chamber where the Pope was slowing fading away.

At 8 p.m. began the Mass for the feast of Divine Mercy at the foot of the dying Pontiff's bed. The rite was presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, John Paul II's private secretary, together with Cardinal Marian Jaworski, archbishop of Lviv of the Latin rite, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and Monsignor Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, the Pope's other personal secretary.

"Liturgical songs accompanied the celebration and they blended with those of the youth and the multitude of faithful gathered in prayer in St. Peter's Square. At 9:37 p.m. John Paul II fell asleep in the Lord."

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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 2:09 PM