The Pope's death would then be announced to the people of Rome-- either by the vicar for the Rome diocese, Cardinal Ruini, or by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Ratzinger.
Cardinal Ruini
Vatican City - Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Pope John Paul II's deputy for Rome who is traditionally charged with breaking the news of a papal death, arrived at the Vatican early on Friday.
Ruini, who is also the head of the Italian bishops' conference, arrived at the Vatican around 08:30.
A Vatican spokesperson said on Friday the Holy See would make an announcement about the pope's condition later in the morning.
"A further announcement will be made on the pope's health in the late morning," the Vatican's deputy spokesperson Ciro Benedettini told reporters.
Earlier, the Holy See said the 84-year-old pontiff received the last rites on Thursday evening after suffering a heart attack and that his condition was "very serious".
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 their beloved pope.
Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
Chance of Surviving Septic Shock Slim Updated: Friday, Apr. 1, 2005 - 10:16 AM
By EMMA ROSS
AP Medical Writer
ROME (AP) - Septic shock, which has stricken Pope John Paul II, involves both bacteria in the blood and a consequent over-relaxing of the blood vessels. The vessels, which are normally narrow and taut, get floppy in reaction to the bacteria and can't sustain any pressure.
That loss of blood pressure is catastrophic, making the heart try harder and harder to compensate for the collapse. Even the hearts of fit and healthy people struggle with septic shock.
John Paul suffered blood poisoning and the collapse of his blood vessels after a urinary tract infection spread to his bloodstream Thursday afternoon.
Vatican officials said the pope was receiving antibiotics, but asked to remain at his Vatican apartment and not be taken to the hospital.
"The chances of an elderly person in this condition with septic shock surviving 24 to 48 hours are slim _ about 10-20 percent, but that would be in an intensive care unit with very aggressive treatment," said Dr. Gianni Angelini, a professor of cardiac surgery at Bristol University in England.
Unless circulation is restored quickly, within about 24 to 48 hours, the organs start failing because of lack of oxygen. The kidneys tend to fail first and the others fall like dominos behind it, said Dr. Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation.
Eventually the heart fails, but unlike in heart failure, the problem does not start in the heart.
"If you've got somebody who is otherwise fit and able _ and you can get antibiotics into them to kill off the bacteria and you can support their circulation with drugs _ then you may get them over it," he said.
There are two main treatments, comprising antibiotics to clear the infection and drugs such as adrenaline to support the circulation by getting the heart to pump faster and clamping down on the arteries.