Pope's 'last word was not Amen'

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."

His account contradicts the version of events which made front page news all over the world - that the Pope was somehow able to speak as his life ebbed away.

According to two separate, but second-hand, accounts the Pope stared from his bed at the open window overlooking the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square and whispered "Amen".

The Vatican has not confirmed the accounts, nor given its own version. But it has not denied them either.

In one account, a Polish priest, Jarek Cielecki, claimed: "Once the faithful's prayer ended the Pope made a huge effort and pronounced the word 'Amen','' he said. "An instant later he died."

It is unclear how Mr Cielecki learned of the details as he had not been in the room at the time.

La Repubblica said it had learned that the Pope had "definitely lost consciousness" one hour and 40 minutes before he died.

This, the paper pointed out, conflicted with the official statement that a mass was celebrated for him at 6pm on Saturday, before he died at 7.37pm.

"How can a person be given the Eucharist when they have already lost consciousness?" it asked.