Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope John Paul II died on Saturday, the Vatican announced. The 84-year-old Pontiff, who had headed the Roman Catholic Church for 26 years, died at 9:37 p.m. (19:37 GMT), a statement said.
"The Holy Father died this evening at 21:37 in his private apartment," the statement said. The news was immediately announced to huge crowds gathered in St Peter's Square.