The final hours of John Paul II

POPE John Paul II was nearing death last night as his health suddenly worsened, drawing anguished prayers from Catholics around the world reluctant to accept his historic pontificate was at an end.

The Vatican said the 84-year-old Pontiff had difficulty breathing and his blood pressure had dropped to dangerously low levels.

But it denied Italian media reports that the Pope, who received the blessing for the dying after his health deteriorated late on Thursday, had died.