Pope John Paul given ‘Last Rites’

VATICAN CITY: Pope John Paul, whose health deteriorated suddenly yesterday, has received the Roman Catholic sacrament reserved for the sick and dying, Italian media reported. A Vatican spokesman said he could not confirm the reports but church sources said it was likely the Pontiff had received the sacrament, given the precarious state of his health. The sacrament, which involves anointing the sick person with special oils, was once called “Last Rites” or “Extreme Unction.” It is now known as the Sacrament of the Infirm.

The last time the Pope was known to have received the sacrament was on May 13, 1981, the day he was shot and nearly killed in an assassination attempt in St Peter’s Square. That time the sacrament was administered by his long-time Polish priest-secretary, Archbishop Stanis-law Dziwisz. AGI news agency quoted an unnamed cardinal as saying the Pope was administered the sacrament earlier in the day and that he was in a “very serious” condition. The Vatican said in a statement that Pope John Paul was suffering from a very high fever caused by a urinary infection.