Pope's 'last word was not Amen' [View All]

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By Valentine Low In Rome, Evening Standard
6 April 2005
Mystery surrounded Pope John Paul II's final words today.


In one of the remarkable stories to have emerged about the death of the pontiff, he was alleged to summoned up enough strength to have whispered "Amen" just before he passed away.

But now doubts have been cast on the accuracy of the story by the Pope's personal physician, Dr Renato Buzzonetti, who has said his patient was so ill he was not capable of speech.

The doctor's version of events has added weight because it is the first account of John Paul's last words - or lack of them - from someone who was in the room at the moment of death. He told La Repubblica, one of Italy's most respected newspapers, the Pope "passed away slowly, with pain and suffering which he endured with great human dignity".

Dr Buzzonetti added: "The Holy Father could not utter a single word before passing away. Just as happened in the last days, he could not speak; he was forced to silence."

http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/17741681?source=Evening%20Standard