Friday, April 1 2005 13:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Vatican City: Pope John Paul II is struggling between life and death after suffering a heart attack, the Vatican said today (April 1, 2005). After the Pontiff's condition deteriorated dramatically he received communion for the dying.

"This morning the health of the Holy Father is very serious," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said.

"Following a urinary tract infection, a septic shock with a cardio-circulatory collapse occurred."

The 84-year-old Pontiff is "conscious, lucid and serene. At 19:17 hrs (22:47 GMT) yesterday (Mar 31, 2005) he received the Saint Viaticum," the spokesman said, referring to the rites administered to the ill when approaching death.

The Pope was immediately given "the appropriate cardio-respiratory assistance", he said. It was not clear if the Pope had been connected to a life-support machine.

It was highly unusual for the Vatican to reveal such details of the Pope's condition, a signal that it was preparing the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics for the demise of John Paul II.

The Polish-born Pope is being treated by medical staff at the Vatican and refused to return to Rome's Gemelli clinic where he was hospitalised twice in the past two months.

"The Holy Father's wish to remain in his home was respected, where complete and efficient medical assistance was assured," said the spokesman.

The statement came after a dramatic night in which conflicting reports emerged on the Pope's condition, with the Vatican Radio saying his condition had stabilised while some Italian televisions reported him on his deathbed.