Advertisement The Margaret Beaufort Institute of TheologyThe Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology Would you like to advertise on ICN? Click to learn more.

Vatican: official statement on death of Pope


Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following announcement yesterday evening: "The Holy Father died at 9.37 this evening in his private apartment. "At 8pm the celebration of Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday began in the Holy Father's room, presided by Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz with the participation of Cardinal Marian Jaworski, of Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko and of Mgr Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki. "During the course of the Mass, the Viaticum was administered to the Holy Father and, once again, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. "The Holy Father's final hours were marked by the uninterrupted prayer of all those who were assisting him in his pious death, and by the choral participation in prayer of the thousands of faithful who, for many hours, had been gathered in St Peter's Square. "Present at the moment of the death of John Paul II were: his two personal secretaries Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz and Mgr Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki, Cardinal Marian Jaworski, Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, Fr Tadeusz Styczen, the three nuns, Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who assist in the Holy Father's apartment, guided by the Superior Sr Tobiana Sobodka, and the Pope's personal physician Dr Renato Buzzonetti, with the two doctors on call, Dr Alessandro Barelli and Dr Ciro D'Allo, and the two nurses on call. "Immediately afterwards Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano arrived, as did the camerlengo of Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo, Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and Archbishop Paolo Sardi, vice-camerlengo of Holy Roman Church. "Thereafter, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Jozef Tomko also arrived. "Tomorrow, Divine Mercy Sunday, at 10.30 am, a Mass for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father will be celebrated in St Peter's Square, presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano. "At 12 noon, the Marian prayer of Easter time, the Regina Coeli, will be recited. "The body of the late pontiff is expected to be brought to the Vatican Basilica no earlier than Monday afternoon. "The first General Congregation of Cardinals will be held at 10 am on Monday April 4 in the Bologna Hall of the Apostolic Palace." Source: Vatican Information Service

Adverts

Congregation of Jesus

We offer publicity space for Catholic groups/organisations. See our advertising page if you would like more information.

We Need Your Support

ICN aims to provide speedy and accurate news coverage of all subjects of interest to Catholics and the wider Christian community. As our audience increases - so do our costs. We need your help to continue this work.

You can support our journalism by advertising with us or donating to ICN.

Mobile Menu Toggle Icon