The Death certificate of Pope John Paul II was posted on the Vatican website in Italian. This is the English translation.

DEATH CERTIFICATE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II

I certify that His Holiness John Paul II (Karol Wojtyła) born in Wadowice (Kraków, Poland) the 18th of May 1920, resident of Vatican City, expired at 9:37 on the evening of April 2, 2005 in his apartment in the Apostolic Vatican Palace (Vatican City) from

• Septic shock
• Irreversible Cardiovascular Collapse

The patient was affected with:

• Parkinson's Disease
• Progressive episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency and resultant tracheotomy
• Benign prostatic hypertrophy complicated by Urosepsis
• Hypertensive cardiopathy and Ischemia

Death was ascertained and established through electrocardiogram readings taken over a period of 20 minutes.

I certify that the cause of death listed is correct, as far as I can ascertain.

Vatican City, April 2, 2005

Director of the Department of Health and Sanitation of the State of Vatican City Dr. RENATO BUZZONETTI

Notes

(Refractory) septic shock was listed as a primary cause of death along with profound arterial hypotension leading to complete circulatory collapse. In cases of fatal sepsis, the normal cause of death is complete circulatory collapse; its listing here is somewhat redundant.

On Thursday, March 31, 2005, it was noted that the pope had suddenly developed a high fever and profound low blood pressure. Although it was not clear as of April 1, 2005, it would appear that this was the beginning of the sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome that would eventually claim his life. The fact that this potentially life-threatening combination of symptoms did not prompt immediate transport to the Gemelli Hospital intensive care unit could be an indication that the pope and those close to him believed that he was nearing death.

External link

DENUNCIA DI MORTE DI SUA SANTITÀ GIOVANNI PAOLO II