Pope slips closer to death as world witnesses final agonies

VATICAN CITY (AFP) — Pope John Paul II is drifting in and out of consciousness but is not in a coma, the Vatican said, as millions of Catholics prayed and the world watched the agonies of the pontiff's dying hours.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the pope's overall heart and breathing conditions had not changed and remained "very serious."

In an indication of his worsening health, a mass was celebrated during the morning in the pope's presence, but significantly he did not take an active role in the ceremony as he had the day before.

Navarro-Valls said the pope's overall condition remained "very serious."

"The general, cardio-respiratory and metabolic conditions of the Holy Father are substantially unchanged and therefore are very serious," he said.

As of dawn Saturday, the pope appeared to be moving in and out of consciousness, he said.

Navarro-Valls said ...