John Paul II was the
first pontiff to leave the Vatican City to be hospitalized. Since the attack of
May 13, 1981, he was admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli several times: on June 20 of that year, for an infection derived
from the wound suffered; On July 15, 1992, in which a cholecystectomy was
performed, with an additional removal of thirty centimeters of intestine by the
presence of a benign tubulovellosal adenoma; On 11 November 1993, for a shoulder dislocation; The 28
of November of 1995 by a femoral fracture; On September 8, 1996 for an
operation of appendicitis. The progression of Parkinson's disease weakened him
to defenselessness, limiting his ability to speak.
The physical
deterioration of John Paul II increased until his death in 2005. In that year
he had to be hospitalized for a respiratory distress syndrome. He underwent a
tracheotomy in mid-March. By the end of the same month his condition worsened
and between March 31 and April 1, he suffered sepsis due to a complication of a
urinary tract infection.
He died on April 2,
2005 at 21:37 (the night before Divine Mercy Sunday). A few minutes later,
Monsignor Leonardo Sandri announced the news to the people gathered in St. Peter's Square
and to the whole world.
His death was due to
septicemia and an irreversible cardiopulmonary collapse, aggravated by his
Parkinson's disease. He was 84 years and 11 months old. In his agony, he
dictated to his secretary, Stanisław Dziwisz, a letter in which he said:
"I am happy, so
be you, I do not want tears, let us pray together with satisfaction. The pope's
spokesman, Joaquín Navarro Valls, initially said that the pontiff, in his last moments, dedicated a
few words to the crowd, especially young people, gathered in St. Peter's Square
(I have looked for them and now they come to look for me, I thank you), making
the gesture of blessing to the window of his chambers, to the faithful
stationed in St. Peter's Square
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