Across Latin America, home to almost half the world's Roman Catholics, people wept and prayed for an end to the suffering of the Pope as his health deteriorated today.
Brazilians prayed at special masses and the Lord's Prayer was recited in the country's Senate as Pope John Paul appeared on the brink of death.
In Mexico, which is 90 per cent Catholic, the faithful packed into Mexico City's vast cathedral to pray for the 84-year-old Pontiff. Mexicans clutched framed photographs of the Pope and wept during a special mass for him last night.
Followers prayed for an end to the pain the Polish pontiff has endured in recent weeks as his already frail health steadily worsened.
Catholicism has been the dominant faith in Latin America since Spanish and Portuguese conquests five centuries ago, although the traditionally solemn religion has been spiced up with colorful rituals and saints from pre-Conquest beliefs.
In Peru, hundreds filled churches to pray for the Pope, many holding candles. In Lima's cathedral, people prayed by the bronze statue of the Virgin Mary made for the Pope's first visit to Peru in 1985 and which he blessed during his stay.
Peru's Episcopal Conference called on Peruvians, almost all of whom are Roman Catholics, to pray for the Pope.
In Chile - where the Pope was on this day 18 years ago - senators and government officials joined people packed into Santiago's main cathedral for a midday mass for the pontiff.
Tributes pouring in included one from a former foe - leftist former president Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, where the Pope was heckled by Sandinista supporters at a mass during a 1983 visit.