Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-06-01
Doctor Doubts
HeCan Live
Until Evening
Pontiff Described
As Serene When
Last Conscious

CAPD.-Pope JOnn AAlll re-
gained consciousness briefly
today for a second time and
then sank back into coma I'M
der the darkening shadow Of
death.
AS the pontiff lowered, his
sturdy heart put up an aston
ishing resistance.
Almost four hours after the
Vatican radio had announced
the Pope could Idle at any mo-
ment." he recovered conscious
ness for the second time today.
An hour later the Vatican said
he slipped once again into I'M
consciousness.
II doubt if he can live until
this evening" one of his doc
tors had said earlier in the
day, but in the afternoon, the
pontiff was lucid enough to
bless those at his bedside and
dedicate his life to his goals for
the church and the world.
The 81-year-old pontiff first
lost consciousness last night.
Early this morning he regained
his senses. then lapsed back
into the coma shortly after 8
am.
Reaction Usual
Short of a miracle, he could
be expected to die at any mo-
ment," the Vatican Radio said
Just after noon, inrploring the
worlds half billion Roman
Catholics to pray for their su-
preme spiritual ruler.
Doctors said such ups and
E downs we're not unusual for
persons gravely i'll with peri
tonitis. The dread infection
struck the Pope during his
struggle with a stomach tumor
which had caused heavy hem
: orrhaging. Peritonitis is an in
= flamation of tissue.
As he had been in his previ-
: Gus return to consciousness, the
a pontiff was reported serene
once again. And once again.
1 the Vatican said, he blessed
those present in the room. He
: offered his life for the church,
4 for his Ecumenical Council in
which he strove for Christian
unity, and for world peace.
kin at Bedside
Among those in the room at
the time we're the Popes three
brothers, his sister. three neph-
ews, four prelates and his
doctors.
When they saw the pontiff
coming out of his coma, they
recited a TIE Deum of thanks,
then the Magnificat, the Nunc
Dimittis and the Angelus pray
ers. The nunc dimittis is a
prayer recited by non-monastic
priests.
The Vatican press office
said the Pope gave his blessing
before and after speaking. II
did not quote him directly, but
said he had once again ex-
pressed his hope that his life
would stand as a sacrifice for
his aims for the church, the
Ecumenical Council and peace
During his first return 70
consciousness. he had blessed
the grieving prelates and rel
atives. talked with some Of
them and recognized each in
dividually. His vitality aston
ished his doctors. And at that
time he had declared: II offer
myself as a victim on the altar
Of the council, the church and
peace"
Death Suspends Council
He had made similar state
ments earlier during his illness.
apparently anxious for the fu-
ture Of the council. which some
regard as the greatest event Of
his reign. His death will sus-
pend II, and his successor
either can reconvene 1t or
leave 1t in suspension.
A monsignor, the RI. Rev.
oddone Tacoli. who saw the
pontiff while he was conscious
early in the day, said he told
him: Holy Father, you seem
revived" He said the Pope
replied:
Il have been able TO follow
my death step by step. Now I
am going sweetly toward the
. s#a.f -
Heard Murmer
Fw had expected the Pope
would live into the new day.
NHHFaNtNa